Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and former U.S. President Donald Trump are co-chairing a landmark peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh today, focused on the Gaza Strip. The summit brings together leaders from over 20 nations, alongside United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Notably, neither Israel nor Hamas are participating in the summit. According to diplomatic sources, the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are expected to sign a document guaranteeing the implementation of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza during the summit. International delegations have already begun arriving in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh for the summit, which aims to bring a definitive end to the two-year conflict in the Gaza Strip that has caused widespread destruction and resulted in tens of thousands of casualties.
In a symbolic gesture, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman, Ambassador Mohamed El Shenawy, announced that President Sisi has decided to award Trump the Order of the Nile, Egypt’s highest honor, “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to supporting peace efforts and defusing conflicts, most recently his pivotal role in stopping the war in Gaza,” according to the statement.
President Trump described the agreement to be signed as “potentially his greatest achievement,” adding in comments to the American website “Axios” that the list of attendees at the summit indicates “the world’s unity behind his plan for peace in Gaza.” Trump also praised the participation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, considering his presence at the summit “very positive.”
Israel has officially announced that it will not send any representatives to the summit. A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the absence of any Israeli official from the meeting. Similarly, Hussam Badran, a leader in the political bureau of Hamas, confirmed that the movement will not participate in the signing of the ceasefire agreement.
A major focus of the summit is on how to manage the Gaza Strip in the coming period, especially in light of the extensive destruction caused by the war. According to diplomatic sources speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the document to be signed by the mediating countries aims to ensure adherence to the implementation of the ceasefire. The sources indicated that the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are among the most prominent parties guaranteeing this document.
According to health authorities in Gaza, the Israeli offensive on the Strip has resulted in the deaths of approximately 68,000 people, with women and children accounting for more than half of the victims. Conversely, 1,219 people were killed in the attack launched by Hamas on southern Israel, according to official Israeli data. This peace summit represents a critical step toward stabilizing the region and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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Written by Noor Eleslam
