Erdogan Threatened to Cancel Flight, Sparking Chaos at Gaza Summit
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt – A planned summit in Sharm el-Sheikh aimed at discussing the aftermath of the recent conflict in Gaza descended into diplomatic and logistical chaos, triggered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s threat to turn his aircraft around mid-flight. The incident, reported by The Guardian, occurred after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted an invitation from Egyptian President Abd al-fattah As-Sisí to the meeting, a plan ultimately derailed by Erdoğan’s strong opposition.
The summit, envisioned as a follow-up to former U.S. President donald Trump’s peace plan, faced immediate headwinds. According to The Guardian, Erdoğan, upon learning of the planned meeting while in flight, instructed his pilots to prepare to return to Turkey rather than participate. Netanyahu subsequently “had no choice but to refuse the invitation,” coinciding with the start of a Jewish holiday. The fallout extended beyond the cancellation of key discussions, manifesting in important delays and disruptions for numerous world leaders attempting to depart from Sharm el-Sheikh.
Reports indicate that attendees experienced extensive waits – exceeding 40 minutes – for transportation from the Congress Center to the airport. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s flight faced a series of setbacks, initially lacking a designated takeoff time, then being diverted off course, and ultimately blocked by the Indonesian delegation. Merz ultimately arrived in Berlin over seven hours late, at 1:30 AM. The incidents underscore the deep divisions and heightened tensions surrounding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and efforts to forge a path toward lasting peace.
