Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ attendance at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit on Monday sent what diplomats described as a clear signal that the Palestinian Authority (PA) seeks to play a central role in governing Gaza after the war, even if not immediately or directly.
Abbas’ participation stood out in the absence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of Hamas. His presence was notable given that US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict does not formally recognize the PA as the legal or political authority over the enclave.
A senior PA official told Asharq Al-Awsat that Abbas’ attendance “was the strongest message yet to Israel and to those trying to sideline the Authority, which remains the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, their state, and their future.” The official added that his presence amounted to “an implicit acknowledgment of his legitimacy by President Trump and other world leaders.”
Although Abbas was not initially listed among the official invitees, Arab and Western insistence on ensuring a role for the PA in post-war arrangements helped secure his participation. The Egyptian presidency confirmed his attendance late Sunday after Abbas arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh aboard a Jordanian aircraft from Ramallah, while Trump landed in Israel.
According to Palestinian sources, the PA has agreed in principle to a transitional phase in Gaza, provided it leads to full Palestinian administrative control of the territory. Abbas’ presence, they said, could pave the way for a broader PA role in shaping the “day after” strategy.
The PA has been engaged in ongoing consultations with Arab governments, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and several Western states, including France.
On Sunday, Hussein al-Sheikh, Abbas’ deputy, met Blair in Jordan to discuss Gaza’s future governance. Blair, under Trump’s proposal, could assume a key coordinating role in post-war management.
Following the meeting, al-Sheikh said the PA was ready to work with Trump, Blair, and other international partners to consolidate the ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian aid, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and advance reconstruction efforts.
Trump’s plan outlines a pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood, with Washington pledging to launch renewed talks between Israelis and Palestinians to achieve lasting coexistence.
In Sharm El-Sheikh, Abbas met French President Emmanuel Macron, who said France would play a “special role” in Gaza’s future administration “alongside the Palestinian Authority,” conditional on reforms. Macron called Abbas’ participation “a very positive signal and recognition of the PA as a legitimate institution.”
During their meeting, Abbas and Macron discussed securing a ceasefire, completing Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, halting settlement expansion, and recovering Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel to enable the PA to fulfill its responsibilities toward its citizens.
