Erdogan Backs Gaza Ceasefire at Sharm el-Sheikh Summit

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the “Sharm el-Sheik Summit for Peace” held in, Egypt on October 13, 2025. The summit took place following the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, which aimed to ensure long-term stability in the Middle East. Erdoğan's visit was seen as a reflection of Turkey's redefined foreign policy in recent years.

President Erdoğan’s participation expressed Turkiye’s position on both regional diplomacy and the long-term peace process in Gaza. The summit was held following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and its stated goal was to end the fighting in Gaza and promote long-term stability in the Middle East. According to the Guardian, Erdoğan's participation is seen as an indication of a reconceptualized foreign policy in recent years. Ankara was not just simply following the process, but was an active peace actor at the table.

In his remarks, Erdoğan was reminded that over the past two years, Turkiye has sent more than 350 aid trucks to Gaza. "This aid will reach even greater levels before winter. The people of Gaza are not alone." He further noted that Turkey has taken a principled position towards crises in the region and has not taken a position based on the interests of any country. Erdoğan reiterated Turkiye's vision of a two-state solution and stated, "No ceasefire can be seen as a real success unless there is a permanent peace. For us, the solution is an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital."

The joint declaration was released after the summit was signed by the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye. In this declaration, the parties had agreed to keep the ceasefire in Gaza, leave the humanitarian aid corridors open, and facilitate the reconstruction process. Although experts have evaluated the lack of Palestinian and Israeli representatives' involvement as a limited success, Erdoğan’s presence showed Turkiye as a credible diplomatic partner.

During the summit, Erdoğan placed particular emphasis on his bilateral meetings, especially his talks with Egyptian President Sisi. The meeting reportedly lasted about an hour, with both sides reaching an agreement on the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza and the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. Erdoğan also held a brief meeting with US President Donald Trump. The meeting addressed Washington's role in the region, humanitarian aid in Gaza, and Turkey's contribution to the process. This meeting drew attention as a return to dialogue following a long period of tension in Turkey-US relations.

At the conference, Erdoğan stressed that Turkiye is a diplomatic intermediary but is also a shared partner in responsibility. Turkiye is intending to send technical teams to help facilitate the rebuilding effort in Gaza. The Turkish Red Crescent and AFAD teams are already at the scene. Additionally, talks are underway to include Turkish building companies in repair the infrastructure in Gaza.

Erdoğan pointed out that during the summit, Turkiye is not just a diplomatic intermediary, but also a facilitator of shared responsibility. Turkey will deploy technical teams to assist with the reconstruction in Gaza. Turkish Red Crescent and AFAD teams are currently on the ground. In addition, we are in discussions with Turkish construction firms, with the aim of including them in projects for infrastructure repairs in Gaza. In short, Ankara wants to contribute from both a humanitarian and economic perspective towards the rehabilitation process in Gaza.

During the press conference held after the summit, Erdoğan announced that Turkiye would engage in dialogue and cooperation with all regional countries. He stressed that they would continue to coordinate, especially with Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan. Erdoğan strongly articulated that “regional peace could be achieved through common sense and sincerity and that Turkey will not be out of the process at any stage."

The summit also acted as an opportunity for Erdoğan to regain regional prominence. After long prioritizing domestic politics, Ankara used this meeting to signal that it was ushering in a new chapter in foreign policy. Turkiye's pivot to multilateral diplomacy was seen as a strategic choice about its own security and regional stability. Experts believe, if Turkiye continues its active engagement in the peace process, it will become a key player in shaping the future of the Middle East.