In a historic ceremony in the Egyptian city, Sharm El Sheikh, US President Donald Trump officially declared the two-year Gaza war over on Monday, following a summit that saw key regional and world leaders sign a comprehensive ceasefire agreement. The pact, which has already begun implementation with a large-scale prisoner exchange, was hailed as the dawn of a new era for the Middle East.
A “Historic” Agreement Forged
The signing ceremony, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, brought together the leaders of Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE, alongside European counterparts. President Trump led the event, holding up the document for cameras and reading a passage that pledged a future of “tolerance and dignity” for the region. “With the historic agreement we’ve just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered,” Mr. Trump stated. “At long last, we have peace in the Middle East.”
The US President had arrived from Israel, where he addressed the Knesset and called it a “tremendous day for the world.” He reserved specific praise for President El Sisi, acknowledging that the Egyptian leader had “played a very important role” in brokering the deal.
Path to Reconstruction and Governance
With the immediate ceasefire holding, the focus is now shifting to the monumental tasks of reconstruction and future governance for Gaza. President Trump announced that the next round of negotiations has already begun and will be centered on rebuilding the devastated enclave. He hinted at the formation of a “board of peace,” chaired by the US and potentially involving other nations, to oversee a new Palestinian administration in Gaza.
The summit represents the most significant hope yet for a permanent end to a conflict that has claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza officials, and caused widespread destruction. The United Nations had declared a famine in parts of Gaza earlier in the year due to the Israeli blockade.
Prisoner Exchange and Emotional Scenes
The first phase of the agreement saw the release of the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages by Hamas on Monday. In return, Israel began releasing hundreds of Palestinian detainees. The emotional handovers were witnessed in the occupied West Bank, where families, despite warnings from Israeli authorities not to celebrate publicly, wept and embraced their returning loved ones.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the summit, the presence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signaled a potential expanded role for the Palestinian Authority in a future Gaza. The deal’s next phases are expected to involve complex talks on disarming Hamas and a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory, setting the stage for a long and challenging road to a lasting peace
