President Donald Trump delivers a speech at the Gaza International Peace Summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday.Yoan Valat/The Associated Press
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi told a summit of world leaders Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast proposal represents the “last chance” for peace in the region and reiterated his call for a two-state solution, saying Palestinians have the right to an independent state.
The summit in Egypt’s Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh was aimed at supporting the ceasefire reached in Gaza, ending the Israel-Hamas war and developing a long-term vision to rebuild the devastated Palestinian territory.
Here's what you need to know about Gaza and the Israel-Hamas war, including the ceasefire deal, the toll of the war so far and what comes next.
The gathering appeared designed to rally international support behind the Trump vision for putting an end to the war. El-Sissi, the co-chair of the summit, told Trump “only you” can bring peace to the region.
Trump’s plan holds out the possibility of a Palestinian state, but only after a lengthy transition period in Gaza and a reform process by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes Palestinian independence. Trump made no mention of a two-state solution at the summit.
In his address, Trump called for a new era of harmony in the Middle East, saying that the region has “a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us.” He urged leaders “to declare that our future will not be ruled by the fights of generations past.”
U.S. President Donald Trump in a speech to world leaders on Monday after the signing of the Gaza ceasefire deal said, 'now the rebuilding begins.'
Reuters
Israel and Hamas came under pressure from the United States, Arab countries and Turkey to agree on the ceasefire’s first phase negotiated in Qatar through mediators. The truce began Friday.
On Monday, Trump, el-Sissi, the Qatari emir and the Turkish president signed a document. Trump said the document spelled out “a lot of rules and regulations and lots of other things, and it’s very comprehensive.” The document was not shared with journalists in the room or made public.
The summit unfolded soon after Hamas released 20 remaining living Israeli hostages and Israel started to free hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons, crucial steps under the ceasefire. But major questions remain over what happens next, raising the risk of a slide back into war.
Israel celebrates release of remaining hostages as Trump declares ‘dawn of new Middle East’
More than 20 world leaders attended the summit, including King Abdullah of Jordan, the French president and the British prime minister.
A Turkish government official said Turkey launched “a diplomatic initiative” to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from attending the meeting, and after other countries backed the effort, Netanyahu decided not to come.
The official would not confirm Turkish media reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plane circled over the Red Sea as Erdogan threatened to boycott the meeting and that the plane landed only after it became clear that Netanyahu would not arrive. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules.
More than 20 world leaders attended the summit in Egypt.Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters
Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had warned Egyptian and U.S. officials that he would withdraw from the summit if Netanyahu attended, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
Netanyahu’s office announced that he would not attend, citing a Jewish holiday.
Israel has rejected any role in Gaza for the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose leader, Mahmoud Abbas, was in Sharm el-Sheikh.
A new page
El-Sissi’s office said the summit aimed to “end the war” in Gaza and “usher in a new page of peace and regional stability” in line with Trump’s vision.
Directly tackling the issues in depth was unlikely at the gathering, which lasted only about three hours and was mostly ceremonial. During the summit, world leaders lined up one by one to have their photos taken with Trump, who smiled and gave a thumbs-up to photographers. Then el-Sissi welcomed Trump, invited him to the stage and asked him to join world leaders “who love peace.”
Before Trump arrived in Egypt from Israel, Egyptian Air Force jets escorted Air Force One for a spin above the resort.
People react as they watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.Oded Balilty/The Associated Press
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the success of Trump’s vision for Mideast peace will depend on his continued commitment to the process, including applying pressure to the parties and deploying military forces as part of an international contingent expected to carry out peacekeeping duties in the next phase.
“We need American engagement, even deployment on the ground, to identify the mission, task and mandate of this force,” Abdelatty told The Associated Press.
In Israel, Trump is transformed from angry political combatant to happy warrior for peace
Under the first phase, Israeli troops pulled back from some parts of Gaza, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza to return home from areas they were forced to evacuate. Aid groups are preparing to bring in large quantities of aid kept out of the territory for months.
In separate remarks, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Trump’s efforts to promote peace in several parts of the world. Pakistan, he said, had nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in helping ease tensions between India and Pakistan.
Critical challenges ahead
The next phase of the deal will have to tackle disarming Hamas, creating a post-war government for Gaza and handling the extent of Israel’s withdrawal from the territory. Trump’s plan also stipulates that regional and international partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force.
Abdelatty said the international force needs a UN Security Council resolution to endorse its deployment.
Palestinians receive food parcels after aid trucks entered from the Karem Abu Salem crossing, in Khan Yunis, in the Gaza Strip, on Sunday.OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP/Getty Images
He said Hamas will have no role in the transitional period in Gaza. A 15-member committee of Palestinian technocrats, with no affiliation with any Palestinian factions and vetted by Israel, will govern day to day affairs in Gaza. The committee would receive support and supervision from a “Board of Peace” proposed by Trump to oversee the implementation of the phases of his plan, Abdelatty said.
“We are counting on Trump to keep the implementation of this plan for all its phases,” he told AP.
Another major issue is raising funds for rebuilding Gaza. The World Bank, and Egypt’s postwar plan, estimate reconstruction and recovery needs in Gaza at US$53-billion. Egypt plans to host an early recovery and reconstruction conference for Gaza in November.
Roles for other countries
Turkey, which hosted Hamas political leaders for years, played a key role in bringing about the ceasefire agreement.
Jordan, alongside Egypt, will train the new Palestinian security force.
Germany, one of Israel’s strongest international backers and top suppliers of military equipment, was represented by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He has expressed concern over Israel’s conduct of the war and its plan for a military takeover of Gaza.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who also attended, has said he will pledge £20-million to help provide water and sanitation for Gaza and that Britain will host a three-day conference on Gaza’s reconstruction and recovery.
Speaking in Egypt, Starmer said Britain was ready to “play its full part” in ensuring that the current ceasefire results in a lasting peace.
President Donald Trump greets Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney during a summit in Egypt.Evan Vucci/The Associated Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney briefly spoke with leaders from European and Middle Eastern countries, as well as the Palestinian Authority and the secretary general of the United Nations, after arriving in Egypt Monday.
The Prime Minister’s Office said they discussed “next steps for collaboration: humanitarian, security, (and) reconstruction.”
“People expect things to change and we all need to collectively ensure lasting peace,” the emailed statement said.
Carney later exchanged brief remarks with Trump during a photo opportunity, in which their words were not audible to media. Carney then sat with the other leaders as the peace deal was signed in front of cameras.
During remarks to media, as the U.S. president was speaking about the various countries in attendance, Trump appeared to refer to Carney as the “president” of Canada.
“He knew the importance of this. He said, I want to be there. So many people have done that,” Trump said.
“I mean, they heard about it, and these are not people that can do that very easily. They have pretty big schedules ... the most powerful people, and I appreciate you being here very much, Mr. president. Fantastic.”
Following the remarks, Carney was the first leader to walk over to Trump and reach out for a handshake. The two men exchanged brief remarks, which ended with Trump laughing and tapping Carney on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. Their remarks were again not audible on video.
In a social media post, Carney said the day “marks the beginning of a new and important chapter.”
“At the Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, we are focused on next steps for peace and security in the Middle East, including ensuring that life-saving aid is delivered urgently,” he said in the post on X.
Iran, a main backer of Hamas, did not attend. The Islamic Republic finds itself at one of its weakest moments since its 1979 revolution. Iranian officials have portrayed the ceasefire deal as a victory for Hamas.
The deal, however, has underlined Iran’s waning influence in the region and revived concerns over possible renewed conflict with Israel as Iran struggles to recover from the 12-day war between the two countries in June.
With reports from The Canadian Press