Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has declined an invitation to attend the Gaza summit scheduled for Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, citing observance of the Jewish holiday Simhat Torah.
In a statement released by his office on Monday, Netanyahu expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for the invitation but said the timing of the summit coincided with the start of the religious festival.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited by US President Donald Trump to attend a conference in Egypt today,” the statement read.
“The prime minister thanked President Trump for the invitation but said he would be unable to attend due to the timing coinciding with the start of the holiday of Simhat Torah, which begins Monday evening and continues until sunset Tuesday.”
The summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aims to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as well as diplomatic efforts toward restoring stability in the region.
Earlier, Egypt’s presidency confirmed that Netanyahu had been invited following a joint call between President Trump, President al-Sisi, and the Israeli premier.
The Simhat Torah holiday, which marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, is one of the most significant celebrations in the Jewish calendar, often observed with communal prayers and festivities.
