Egypt Hosts World Leaders at Peace Summit to Support Gaza Truce/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ World leaders gathered in Egypt to support the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. and Egypt. The summit marked a push toward ending the Israel-Hamas war and shaping Gaza’s future. Major global powers endorsed continued peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts.


Gaza Ceasefire Gains Global Support Quick Looks
- Egypt and U.S. co-host summit for peace in Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Israel and Hamas did not attend; Netanyahu absent due to holiday.
- Gaza truce includes release of 20 hostages and 100s of prisoners.
- Egypt’s el-Sissi and Trump pledge commitment to regional stability.
- Summit seen as turning point after over two years of war.
- Trump’s vision includes international peacekeeping and Gaza reconstruction.
- UN-backed force and Palestinian security team part of future plan.
- Reconstruction costs projected at $53 billion; donor talks to follow.
- Turkey, Jordan, Germany, UK, and EU leaders join the summit.
- Iran absent from summit; seen as weakened regional player.

Egypt Hosts World Leaders at Peace Summit to Support Gaza Truce
Deep Look
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — The global spotlight turned to Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday as world leaders convened for the “Summit for Peace”, co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, to bolster international support for the recently brokered Gaza ceasefire and to lay the groundwork for a postwar vision.
While Israel and Hamas were notably absent from the talks, the summit’s objective was clear: solidify the fragile ceasefire and coordinate the next steps toward rebuilding Gaza and preventing a return to war.
“The summit’s aim is to end the war in Gaza and usher in a new page of peace and regional stability,” el-Sissi’s office declared in a statement reflecting the urgency of the moment.
A Ceasefire in Motion, but Unfinished Business
The gathering came just days after Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages, and Israel began freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners — critical first steps under a truce that began Friday.
While the releases sparked joy on both sides, questions remain about the long-term implementation of the agreement. Observers warn that without concrete action on key issues — such as governance, disarmament, and aid distribution — the region risks sliding back into war.
“Success depends on full implementation of the deal’s first phase,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who stressed the need for U.S. involvement, including on-the-ground support in future peacekeeping missions. “We need American engagement — even deployment — to define the mission, task, and mandate of this force,” he told the Associated Press.
Trump’s Vision and International Commitments
President Trump, who brokered the ceasefire alongside Egypt and Qatar, envisions a broader transformation in the region. His administration has proposed:
- Partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- Formation of an international peacekeeping force under a UN Security Council mandate.
- The development of a new Palestinian security force trained by Egypt and Jordan.
- Long-term governance led by Palestinian technocrats, supported by an international coalition.
- Eventual reconstruction of Gaza with a $53 billion recovery plan.
Trump’s peace vision — once criticized for proposing a depopulated Gaza — has now shifted toward stabilization through international cooperation. Monday’s summit marked his most high-profile diplomatic push since the ceasefire took effect.
While Israel refused to send a delegation, citing the Simchat Torah holiday, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stayed home, Trump’s message was clear: “This is the moment to act, while the guns are silent.”
High-Profile Attendees, Shared Stakes
The summit drew a wide range of regional and global leaders, each with stakes in the outcome:
- Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, arrived early to show his government’s readiness to help shape postwar Gaza — though Israel continues to reject PA involvement in the Strip.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani — key actors in mediating the ceasefire — participated actively in the session.
- King Abdullah of Jordan, whose nation will help train Palestinian forces, attended alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, and EU President António Costa.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres endorsed the ceasefire and stressed the need for humanitarian access and international oversight.
Britain pledged £20 million ($27 million) in emergency aid and announced a three-day conference focused on coordinating reconstruction and water and sanitation services in Gaza.
Iran’s Absence Highlights Regional Shifts
Iran, a key supporter of Hamas, was not invited and remains sidelined — a reflection of both its waning influence and internal challenges following recent military confrontations with Israel. Though Iranian officials hailed the ceasefire as a win for Hamas, analysts say the deal diminished Iran’s clout in the conflict and exposed its limited ability to shape outcomes in Gaza.
Security and Sovereignty Questions Loom
A central unresolved issue remains: what happens next in Gaza?
- Disarming Hamas remains a nonstarter for the group, but a top priority for Israel.
- Rebuilding governance in Gaza remains complex, as Israel opposes any PA-led government, while Hamas insists on Palestinian self-determination.
- International oversight is gaining favor, with proposals for an Arab-led force to monitor the transition and secure key infrastructure.
A UN Security Council resolution is expected in the coming weeks to formally endorse the peacekeeping framework and provide legal cover for deployment.
Meanwhile, aid organizations are preparing to flood Gaza with long-delayed supplies. Israel has agreed to reopen five major border crossings, and NGOs are working to get critical goods into areas facing severe famine and displacement.
The Road Ahead
The Egypt summit — held in the historic Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh — echoes past peace efforts in the region. Once the site of pivotal Israel-Egypt negotiations, the city is again the backdrop for high-stakes diplomacy.
This time, however, the stakes are broader: a sustainable peace in Gaza, long-term regional stability, and the potential reimagining of Palestinian self-governance.
While the summit may not yield final answers, its significance lies in global consensus: the ceasefire must hold, and peace cannot be allowed to unravel.
A joint statement by Trump and el-Sissi — expected to be released after the summit — will outline the next steps in what leaders hope is the beginning of a new chapter for the region.
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