World Leaders Back Trump’s Mideast Plan at Sharm el-Sheikh Summit

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – A summit of world leaders convened in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday, resulting in a signed document supporting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for Middle East peace and bolstering the recently established ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi stated that Trump’s proposal represents the “last chance” for peace in the region, while reiterating his support for a two-state solution and recognizing the right of Palestinians to an independent state. Trump, addressing the summit, called for a “new era of harmony” and urged leaders to move beyond “the fights of generations past.” The gathering aimed to solidify international backing for the Trump plan, which outlines a potential Palestinian state contingent on a lengthy transition period and reforms within the Palestinian Authority – a framework opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who did not attend the summit.

The signed document, details of which were not publicly released, was affirmed by Trump, el-Sissi, the Qatari emir, and the Turkish president. This comes after Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel began freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, fulfilling key terms of the ceasefire negotiated in Qatar. The successful implementation of this ceasefire is crucial to preventing a resurgence of violence in the region, which has experienced ongoing conflict for decades. Further complicating matters, a Turkish government official revealed a diplomatic effort to prevent Netanyahu’s attendance, and indicated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nearly boycotted the meeting until assurances were made. For more background on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, see the Council on Foreign Relations’ in-depth analysis.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the need for continued American engagement, potentially including a peacekeeping force, to ensure the plan’s success. He also noted that Hamas will not be involved in the transitional period in Gaza, with a 15-member committee of Palestinian technocrats, vetted by Israel, set to govern day-to-day affairs. Reconstruction costs for Gaza are estimated at $53 billion, and Egypt plans to host a recovery conference in November. You can find more information about international aid efforts on the World Bank’s website.

Officials stated that the next steps involve disarming Hamas, establishing a post-war government for Gaza, and determining the extent of Israel’s withdrawal from the territory, with el-Sissi’s office expressing hope that the summit will “usher in a new page of peace and regional stability.”