Three Qatari diplomats lost their lives and two others were injured on Sunday following a car crash near Egypt's Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, the Qatari Embassy in Cairo confirmed.

According to Egyptian media outlet Al-Qahera News, the accident occurred when the driver of the vehicle lost control of the steering wheel. Five Qatari nationals and an Egyptian driver were reportedly in the car at the time of the crash.

In a statement, the embassy said it "expressed deep sorrow and grief" over the loss, adding that "the deceased and injured will be transferred to Doha on a Qatari plane today." The statement also confirmed that "the two injured are currently receiving the necessary medical care at Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital."

سفارة دولة قطر لدى القاهرة تعرب عن بالغ حزنها لوفاة ثلاثة من منتسبي الديوان الأميري وتتابع أوضاع المصابين في حادث مروري بشرم الشيخ pic.twitter.com/Xv4OMrA0Wy

— سفارة قطر - القاهرة (@QatarEmb_Cairo) October 12, 2025

The diplomats had traveled to Egypt as part of Qatar's delegation involved in mediating a truce between "Israel" and Palestinian Resistance factions in Gaza, alongside Egypt and the United States. The ceasefire followed months of indirect negotiations.

The tragedy struck on the eve of a high-level peace summit  in Sharm El-Sheikh, set to open Monday under the joint chairmanship of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Donald Trump. More than 20 countries are expected to attend the meeting, which aims to establish a political framework for ending the war on Gaza and addressing the humanitarian crisis that has devastated the Strip for nearly two years.

Read more: 'Proposed arms handover off the table, non-negotiable': Hamas official

Diplomatic Deaths Echo

The crash has sparked unease among regional observers, with some drawing parallels to the mysterious helicopter crash in May 2024 that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, both key figures in Tehran's regional diplomacy. In both cases, the deaths occurred at sensitive moments of negotiation and were followed by swift official explanations citing mechanical failure or loss of control, with little independent verification.

Analysts note that Qatar's role as a principal mediator between Hamas, "Israel," and Western powers has made its diplomats central to ongoing ceasefire efforts. The sudden deaths of members of its delegation, coming amid fragile truce talks, have therefore raised questions about whether the incident could have wider political repercussions or complicate coordination among mediating states.