Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – October 14, 2025 – In a landmark gathering that could redefine Middle East diplomacy, more than 20 world leaders assembled at the International Conference Center in this sun-drenched Red Sea resort town on October 13 for the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit. Co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the event marked the formal endorsement of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement aimed at halting the two-year Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, a conflict that has claimed over 67,000 lives and displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave.
The summit, billed as a "pivotal moment" by el-Sisi, brought together an eclectic array of heads of state and government from Europe, the Arab world, and beyond, underscoring a rare convergence of international will to not only pause the fighting but to chart a path toward reconstruction and long-term stability. Notably absent were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cited scheduling conflicts ahead of Jewish holidays, and representatives from Hamas, the Palestinian militant group central to the conflict. Their exclusion highlighted the fragility of the deal, brokered indirectly through mediators Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States.
At the heart of the proceedings was the signing of the first phase of Trump's ambitious 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, unveiled in late September 2025 during a White House press conference alongside Netanyahu. This phase, which took effect on October 10, mandates the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas—20 living captives and the remains of 24 others—in exchange for Israel's release of approximately 1,950 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and all women and children detained since October 7, 2023. In a choreographed ceremony, Trump and el-Sisi held up the signed documents as flashbulbs popped, symbolizing a tentative end to hostilities that began with Hamas's deadly assault on southern Israel.
The agreement's immediate impacts were felt swiftly. Hamas handed over the 20 living hostages to International Red Cross representatives in Gaza on October 13, sparking joyous scenes in Tel Aviv where families reunited amid tears and cheers. Israel reciprocated by freeing nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, many of whom had been held without trial under administrative detention policies criticized by human rights groups. Concurrently, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from densely populated northern and central areas of Gaza, pulling back to a security perimeter that leaves them in control of about 53% of the territory. Humanitarian corridors opened, allowing the first unrestricted convoys of aid—food, water, medical supplies, and construction equipment—to enter via the Rafah crossing since the war's escalation.
Trump, fresh from a visit to Israel where he addressed the Knesset and met hostage families, hailed the day as a "new beautiful day" for the region. In his summit address, he credited the "unwavering diplomatic efforts" of the mediating quartet—U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—for forging the breakthrough, while calling for broader Arab-Israeli normalization under an expanded Abraham Accords. "We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds behind us," Trump declared, urging attendees to commit funds and forces to Gaza's rebuilding. El-Sisi echoed this optimism, describing the plan as the "last chance" for regional peace and reiterating Egypt's call for a two-state solution with a sovereign Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders.
The guest list read like a who's who of global diplomacy, reflecting the summit's broad appeal. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government hosted Hamas leaders during negotiations, arrived early and engaged in sideline talks on reconstruction. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, pivotal in hostage talks, pledged $500 million for immediate aid. Jordan's King Abdullah II, alongside el-Sisi, committed to training a Palestinian security force for Gaza's borders. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, arrived en masse, signaling the EU's renewed focus on Middle East stability. Starmer announced £20 million for Gaza's water infrastructure, while the EU's António Costa represented the bloc's commitment to a "permanent end to hostilities." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah faction rivals Hamas, attended and met bilaterally with Abbas to discuss governance transitions. Other notables included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who stressed the need for "unimpeded humanitarian access."
A key sideline meeting convened by el-Sisi united Macron, Erdogan, Abdullah II, Qatar's emir, Merz, and the prime ministers of Italy, the UK, and Canada to coordinate ceasefire implementation, including a planned Cairo Reconstruction Conference in November. The World Bank estimates Gaza's recovery needs at $53 billion, with priorities on rubble removal (over 81,000 tons), hospital rehabilitation, and infrastructure repair. Egypt, as the Rafah crossing's custodian, vowed to facilitate aid flows, while Turkey and Qatar emphasized transparent distribution to avoid past diversions.
Beyond the pageantry, the summit spotlighted Trump's comprehensive vision. Subsequent phases envision Hamas's demilitarization—potentially through amnesty or exile for fighters—a temporary technocratic government supervised by the Palestinian Authority and Arab states, and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) of about 200 multinational troops to secure borders. This interim body would oversee a "reform program" for the Palestinian Authority, accused of corruption, while establishing a special economic zone to attract investment. The plan explicitly rejects forced displacement, affirming Palestinians' right to remain and rebuild. Hamas, in a statement from exiled leader Khalil al-Hayya, welcomed the "permanent ceasefire" but rejected disarmament without Israeli security guarantees, citing past violations like the March 2025 offensive that shattered a prior truce.
The international community responded with cautious optimism. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev issued a statement on October 14 expressing profound satisfaction with the summit. "I welcome the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit for Peace held on 13 October 2025 with the participation of world leaders following the establishment of a ceasefire based on the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt," Omuraliev said. He hoped the truce would culminate in "a permanent end to hostilities and suffering in Gaza as well as the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid." Omuraliev further urged the parties to seize "this precious opportunity" for a two-state solution, allowing Palestinians and Israelis to "live side by side in peace and security." As a body representing Turkic nations including Turkey—a key mediator—the OTS's endorsement underscores the plan's regional buy-in.
Yet, even as confetti fell, shadows loomed. On October 14, less than 24 hours post-summit, Israeli forces reportedly killed nine Palestinians and injured 17 in northern Gaza during an operation targeting a "Hamas cell," drawing accusations of ceasefire violations. Israel announced the Rafah crossing's closure starting October 15, suspending aid until the 24 hostage remains are recovered—remains potentially buried under rubble from IDF operations. Hamas countered by executing several alleged collaborators and rejecting Phase Two talks without firm disarmament timelines. UN officials, including Guterres, warned that "the real test begins now," calling for swift ISF deployment to prevent backsliding.
The war's toll remains staggering: Gaza's healthcare system has collapsed, with over 80% of hospitals non-functional; famine looms for 2.2 million residents; and psychological scars will endure for generations. Reconstruction, estimated at decades-long, hinges on international pledges—pledges that faltered in past ceasefires. As el-Sisi noted, the summit "closes a painful page in human history," but only if Phase Two negotiations, slated to begin imminently, deliver on demilitarization and governance.
Trump's role, once polarizing, now garners bipartisan U.S. praise, with figures like former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair—present as a reconstruction advisor—lauding the "breakthrough." Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, invited to speak, nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his averting of "seven or eight wars." Yet, global skeptics, including rights groups, decry the plan's ambiguity on accountability for alleged war crimes.
As delegates departed under a crimson sunset, the Sinai's ancient whispers seemed to echo the summit's stakes: Peace in Gaza could ripple toward broader Arab-Israeli ties, economic booms via special zones, and a two-state horizon. Or, as history cautions, it could unravel into renewed strife. For now, the world watches, aid trucks rumble northward, and Omuraliev's words resonate—a "precious opportunity" not to be squandered.
