Gaza peace meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, signing of ceasefire agreement and beginning of a new phase of Middle East diplomacy
The international Gaza peace conference, titled “Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Conference,” was held on Monday, October 13, in the coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and ended with the signing of a historic document by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The agreement, which is part of Trump’s proposed peace plan to end the Gaza war, implements the first phase of the ceasefire and paves the way for the exchange of hostages and prisoners and the reconstruction of the region.
The meeting was attended by more than 20 world leaders, including Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority President King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council.
Israel and Hamas were not directly invited, but indirect talks in recent days have led to an agreement on a ceasefire.
According to reports, Hamas released all (20) live hostages on Monday morning and handed over the bodies of a number of the dead hostages.
In his opening speech, Al-Sisi emphasized that the goal of this summit to end the war in the Gaza Strip is to strengthen efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East and open a new era of regional security.
Trump also traveled to Egypt after visiting Israel and speaking in the Knesset, praising the role of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in mediation.
However, complex issues such as the role of the Palestinian Authority in administering Gaza after the war and the fate of Hamas remain unresolved, challenging the next phases of the agreement.
The event, which was accompanied by the installation of celebratory banners on the streets of Sharm El-Sheikh, has been described as a symbol of hope for peace after two years of conflict, although the United Nations and human rights groups have stressed the need to respect human dignity and urgently rebuild Gaza.
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been martyred in this war, and diplomatic efforts to prevent an escalation of tensions continue.
