Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan orchestrated a diplomatic effort to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from attending a high-level summit in Egypt, according to a senior official. The summit, held at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, aimed to support the ceasefire in Gaza. Omer Celik, spokesman for Erdogan’s ruling party, confirmed that Turkey had actively worked to block Netanyahu’s participation, marking the first public acknowledgment of Ankara’s role in the matter. Erdogan, a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s military actions in Gaza, reportedly gained support from several nations to ensure the Israeli leader’s absence. Netanyahu’s office initially accepted a last-minute invitation but later cited a Jewish holiday as the reason for his withdrawal. Erdogan, who maintains ties with Hamas, signed a four-party declaration alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar. In a speech, Erdogan hailed the declaration as a significant step toward halting what he described as ‘genocide’ in Gaza, a claim Israel strongly denies. The Turkish president also emphasized the long-term challenges of rebuilding Gaza, stating that the devastation may never be fully repaired. Meanwhile, Erdogan’s plane aborted its landing at Sharm el-Sheikh due to a runway issue, dismissing rumors of a boycott threat.