Sharm El-Sheikh, October 13, 2025
In a landmark moment for the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey affixed their signatures to the Gaza ceasefire agreement during a high-stakes summit here on Monday, formally ending the 24-month Israel-Hamas war that claimed over 66,000 lives. The ceremony, attended by over two dozen world leaders including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and French President Emmanuel Macron, marked the culmination of intense U.S.-led negotiations that began at the UN General Assembly last month.
Trump, beaming alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, declared, “Today is a historic day for the people of Gaza. This peace deal will bring lasting stability to the Middle East.” He praised the collective effort, spotlighting Egypt’s pivotal mediation role, and vowed international support for Gaza’s reconstruction. “We’ve never seen a day like this—it’s not just for Gaza, but for the entire world,” Trump added, as applause echoed through the grand hall.
The agreement’s first phase, effective immediately, includes Hamas’s release of all remaining hostages—over 100 freed in phases since last Friday—Israeli withdrawal from key areas like Rafah and Khan Younis, and unrestricted humanitarian aid corridors. Subsequent stages outline prisoner exchanges, Gaza’s $50 billion rebuild over five years, and a political pathway toward a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, per UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Sharif, representing Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestine, echoed Trump’s optimism: “This accord paves the way for justice and dignity.” Absent were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, with the Palestinian Authority’s Mahmoud Abbas observing from Ramallah.
As celebrations erupted in Gaza—families reuniting amid cautious joy—the deal faces scrutiny over enforcement. Trump, fresh from addressing Israel’s Knesset, called it potentially his “greatest achievement,” while analysts warn of spoilers amid regional tensions. For now, Sharm El-Sheikh’s Red Sea backdrop symbolizes hope reborn.
