U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey on Tuesday signed a declaration aimed at bringing lasting peace to Gaza, marking what Trump described as “a new and beautiful day” for the Middle East.
Speaking at the summit in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Trump praised regional leaders for helping to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, calling it “the most challenging breakthrough of them all.”
Earlier, in an address to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, Trump told cheering lawmakers that “the long and painful nightmare is finally over.” Israel is releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 detainees held during the two-year Gaza conflict in exchange for the last 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, along with the return of 28 bodies.
Flanked by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and more than 20 world leaders, Trump said, “Everybody’s happy. This took 3,000 years to get to this point, and it’s going to hold up too.”
President al-Sisi hailed the event as a “historic milestone that ends an agonising chapter,” before awarding Trump Egypt’s highest honour, the Order of the Nile.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also attended the summit, joining Trump for a group photo, less than a week after being barred from the UN General Assembly by Washington.
While the first phase of the ceasefire is now in effect, uncertainty remains over the future governance of Gaza. Trump confirmed that negotiations for a full peace agreement are under way, describing it as “the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
During his Knesset address, Israeli lawmakers chanted “Trump, Trump, Trump” as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced him as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.” Netanyahu thanked Trump for his role in securing the release of hostages taken in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks.
Trump revealed he had urged Netanyahu to end the Gaza offensive, warning that continued fighting would tarnish his legacy. “I said, ‘Bibi, you’ll be remembered for this far more than if you kept it going kill, kill, kill,” Trump recalled.
Also present were key U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was widely credited for his role in brokering the deal.
Members of Israel’s parliament wore red caps reading “Trump the Peace President,” while the speaker declared Trump “the most deserving” of next year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Some opposition lawmakers boycotted the session, and one was escorted out after holding up a sign reading “Recognise Palestine.”
The Gaza ceasefire, part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, took effect on Friday morning. Trump said a “board of peace” would soon be established to oversee the region’s reconstruction and ensure the truce endures.
