An international summit opened Monday evening in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to reinforce the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The gathering took place without Israeli participation after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined a last-minute invitation, citing the start of the Jewish holiday.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived at the summit directly from his address to Knesset, calling the meeting “a great day for the Middle East.” He later signed the ceasefire accord together with the leaders of the mediating nations: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump, Middle East leaders sign Gaza ceasefire dea
Before the signing, Trump met briefly with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The two exchanged a handshake and a few words — their first public interaction since Washington denied Abbas a visa to attend last month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During talks with el-Sisi, who hosted the summit, Trump said discussions had begun on the second stage of his Gaza peace plan — a more complex phase expected to address the disarmament of the territory and the creation of a new governing body not led by Hamas.
Trump praised the Egyptian president as a “strong leader,” according to U.S. and Egyptian readouts, and spoke favorably about Egypt’s tight control over crime. He has frequently referred to el-Sisi as “the general,” a nod to his military background.
At the summit, el-Sisi said Trump was “the only one who can bring peace to the region” and described the Gaza agreement as a “great achievement,” according to the Associated Press. He added that the next priority was ensuring humanitarian aid reached Gaza and that the remains of Israeli hostages were returned to their families.
Trump meeting with el-Sisi
After the signing ceremony, el-Sisi announced that Egypt would host another summit to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction. He reiterated his support for a two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace, saying Palestinians have the right to live in an independent state alongside Israel.
Trump said reconstruction efforts would begin immediately but stressed that Gaza must remain demilitarized and governed by a new civilian policing force.
According to diplomatic sources, el-Sisi’s invitation to Netanyahu had been extended at Trump’s urging. While early reports suggested Netanyahu might travel to Egypt, he later said he would not attend because of the holiday. A Turkish official told Reuters that Erdogan had opposed Netanyahu’s participation and applied diplomatic pressure to keep him from joining the event.
During the summit, Trump met with Erdogan and exchanged a handshake, calling him “a tough guy” and adding with a smile, “But I love him.”
The summit drew numerous world leaders, including Jordan’s King Abdullah II, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
First published: 18:05, 10.13.25