Leaders meet in Egypt for Gaza summit

World leaders gathered in Sharm el‑Sheikh for an international summit aimed at consolidating a ceasefire and planning post‑war recovery in Gaza. Hosts and attendees included Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi, U.S. President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Pakistan, the UK, Canada, Spain and others, alongside UN and Arab League officials. Delegations from additional countries, including Paraguay and the Netherlands, were also present.

The summit sought to solidify the first phase of a ceasefire agreement reached in Cairo under a U.S.‑backed plan. That initial phase saw Hamas release 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and included provisions for Red Cross‑escorted transfers, monitored pauses in fighting, secure humanitarian corridors and an agreed pullback of forces to prearranged defensive lines. Summit statements emphasized the need for third‑party monitors to oversee compliance and for coordinated delivery of aid and reconstruction support.

Trump said the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was “working out incredibly well,” calling it an unprecedented achievement “thousands of years in the making.” He announced that a comprehensive document outlining “rules and regulations” for peace was being signed by himself, el-Sisi, Turkish President Erdogan, and Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim. No further details about the agreement were immediately released, though Trump insisted, “It’s going to hold up.”

Leaders framed the gathering as a step toward ending hostilities and launching Gaza’s reconstruction, with co‑chairs stressing the ceasefire’s continuation and pledging international assistance. Proposals for subsequent phases include forming a new governing mechanism in Gaza excluding Hamas, disarming militant groups, and deploying a multinational force to secure the territory—measures that remain contentious.

Observers and officials warned the arrangement is fragile: deep mutual distrust, unresolved political questions, and remaining hostages pose risks to implementation. Delegates called for robust verification, sustained humanitarian access, and a roadmap for reconstruction tied to security guarantees. The summit aimed to translate the temporary pause into a durable framework for peace, reconstruction and regional stability while acknowledging that significant diplomatic and practical hurdles remain.