Sahir Baloch
Sharm el sheikh: A landmark document formalising the Gaza ceasefire deal was signed on Monday at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, with the four principal mediators — U.S. President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani — pledging to support the implementation of a comprehensive peace plan for the war-ravaged territory.
Neither Israel nor Hamas attended the signing ceremony, though both sides had earlier agreed to the terms of the truce brokered through Egyptian, American, Turkish, and Qatari mediation.
The summit, co-chaired by Presidents Trump and El-Sisi, was attended by more than 20 world leaders, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, among others.
A “historic day” for the Middle East
Addressing the summit, President Trump declared, “The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace.”
Calling it a “tremendous day for the Middle East,” Trump said the ceasefire would usher in “peace, stability, and prosperity” for Israelis and Palestinians alike. He also thanked regional leaders — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir — for their diplomatic efforts in support of the peace process.
Egyptian President El-Sisi hailed the agreement as “a glimmer of hope that closes a painful chapter in human history and opens the door to a new era of stability in the Middle East.” He later announced that President Trump would be conferred Egypt’s highest state honour, the Order of the Nile, in recognition of his “service to peace.”
Ceasefire details and humanitarian steps
The Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement, concluded on October 9, outlines a multi-phase plan involving Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis, and the northern regions, alongside the exchange of prisoners and hostages.
On Monday, Hamas released the remaining 20 Israeli hostages, while Israel began freeing nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees under the terms of the deal.
The agreement also calls for the opening of five aid crossings, the entry of humanitarian supplies, and the restoration of essential services in the Gaza Strip.
According to UN-backed assessments, over 67,000 people have been killed in Gaza during more than two years of Israeli military operations, which have also driven famine and large-scale displacement.
A push for lasting peace
In his closing remarks, President El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to the agreement, urging all parties to ensure “the complete implementation of all phases leading to a two-state solution.”
World leaders at the summit endorsed a joint declaration to maintain the ceasefire and support long-term regional peace efforts.
As the ceremony concluded, President Trump thanked participants, quipping after PM Shehbaz’s remarks: “Wow, I didn’t expect that. Let’s go home — there’s nothing more I can add. That was beautifully said.”
The day’s events marked a rare moment of unity at a time of deep regional division — a diplomatic milestone that leaders hope will finally bring an enduring peace to Gaza.
