In a landmark event, leaders and officials from over two dozen nations convened in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday to formalize a ceasefire agreement aimed at concluding Israel’s prolonged conflict in Gaza. The summit, orchestrated by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, saw the participation of prominent figures including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Notably absent were representatives from Hamas and Israel, as well as the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who opted to send lower-level delegates instead.
US President Donald Trump, who arrived to a warm reception, played a pivotal role in the proceedings. He praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as ‘one of the greatest wartime leaders’ and heralded the ceasefire as a ‘once in a lifetime deal.’ Trump unveiled the ‘Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity,’ a memorandum signed by the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, which emphasized diplomatic resolutions over force and the protection of fundamental human rights for both Palestinians and Israelis.
The ceasefire agreement, reached days prior, stipulated the release of Israeli captives by Hamas and the return of Palestinian detainees by Israel. While celebrations erupted in Israel, Gaza witnessed subdued reunions due to Israeli warnings against public celebrations. However, critical questions remain unresolved, including Gaza’s governance, Israeli troop withdrawal, and Hamas’s disarmament.
Trump’s controversial 20-point peace plan, announced earlier, proposed the creation of a Board of Peace led by the US president. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose involvement has sparked mixed reactions, was also named to the committee. Despite his controversial legacy in the region, Blair met with Palestinian officials to discuss post-war strategies and the implementation of Trump’s peace efforts.
Hamas, in a statement, claimed that Netanyahu had ‘submitted to the resistance’s conditions,’ highlighting the group’s efforts to protect Israeli captives during the conflict. The war, which spanned over two years, resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza, with recent reports indicating that over 80% of the fatalities were civilians.