Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan refused to land in Egypt on Sunday after learning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been invited to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Israel Hayom, Erdoğan’s aircraft circled over the Red Sea for an extended period instead of landing. He reportedly warned Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that his plane “would not touch down if Netanyahu attended.” The Turkish leader’s firm stance prompted hurried consultations involving U.S., Israeli, and Egyptian officials. Netanyahu eventually withdrew his participation, allowing Erdoğan’s plane to land.
The summit, hosted by Egypt and co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump, was convened to sign a peace settlement formally ending the Gaza war and launch a path forward on post-conflict reconstruction, governance, and humanitarian access. Egypt had extended the invitation to Netanyahu following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has recently sought to revive Washington’s role in Middle East peace efforts.
According to multiple diplomatic sources, Erdoğan made it known in advance that he would refuse to attend or land in Sharm el-Sheikh if Netanyahu were present. With the summit’s formal proceedings imminent, Turkish officials warned Egyptian counterparts that Erdoğan’s aircraft would not land. Under that pressure, and following intense negotiations involving Egypt, the U.S., and Israel, Netanyahu’s invitation was withdrawn and Erdoğan’s jet was allowed to land.
Netanyahu and President Sisi had not spoken since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, when Egyptian-Israeli relations sharply deteriorated over the humanitarian crisis in Rafah and border tensions. Erdoğan, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s military campaign, has consistently condemned Netanyahu’s leadership and labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as “war crimes.”
By refusing to share the summit stage, Erdoğan reinforced his position as a staunch defender of the Palestinian cause—while exposing renewed friction between regional leaders despite U.S. efforts to promote dialogue.
