Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, convened in Cairo to discuss pressing issues, notably urging Israel to halt its impending offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza. The meeting marks a significant diplomatic step as Ankara and Cairo mend relations that had been strained for years.

Erdogan’s visit to Egypt, his first in over a decade, follows recent efforts to reconcile with regional powers, including a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. At the Ittihadiya palace, Erdogan and el-Sisi emphasised the importance of immediate ceasefire efforts in Gaza and the necessity to restore calm in the West Bank, with the broader aim of revitalising Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Expressing solidarity with Egypt, Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation to foster peace and stability in the region. The leaders’ discussions also addressed concerns about the potential fallout of an Israeli ground offensive on Rafah, particularly regarding the displacement of Palestinians into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, prompting Egypt to consider repercussions on its long-standing peace treaty with Israel. Efforts to broker a ceasefire and facilitate the return of captives held by Hamas remain ongoing, with Turkey offering support for Gaza’s reconstruction and pledging to elevate trade ties with Egypt.