President Donald Trump attended a summit in the Middle East where he and other world leaders signed a peace deal to officially end the Israel-Hamas war. Trump spoke about achieving lasting peace in the region.
“This took 3,000 years to get to this point,” Trump said while signing the Gaza peace plan. “Can you believe it? And it’s going to hold up, too.”
Trump’s international visit included two major events: the summit in Egypt and a speech at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem.
After more than two years of war, Trump joined the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to discuss the future political, humanitarian, and security situation in Gaza following what they said was the official end to the bloodshed in the Israel-Hamas war.
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Trump hails ceasefire and aid efforts
“After years of suffering and bloodshed, the war in Gaza is over,” Trump declared. “Humanitarian aid is now pouring in, including hundreds of truckloads of food, medical equipment and other supplies, much of it paid for by people in this room. Civilians are returning to their homes. The hostages are reuniting. I mean, it’s beautiful. I’m just watching it backstage. The level of love and sorrow, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Full details of Gaza’s post-war plans have not yet been released to the public.
“A new and beautiful day is rising and now the rebuilding begins,” Trump said. “The rebuilding is maybe going to be the easiest part. I think we’ve done a lot of the hardest part.”
Trump’s visit comes during a sensitive time in the region. Prior to arriving in Egypt, he visited Israel to celebrate the ceasefire announced Sept. 29, which he helped negotiate between Israel and Hamas.
Two prior ceasefires between Israel and Hamas have collapsed due to renewed outbreaks of violence.
Terms of the Gaza peace plan
Phase one of the ceasefire called for Hamas to release all remaining hostages — dead or alive — in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
There are also the bodies of 26 Israeli hostages believed to be dead that still need to be recovered. The agreement includes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
Phase two of the deal removes Hamas from power in Gaza and replaces it with a newly created government. Hamas will not be allowed to participate in the new administration.
“This is the day that people across the region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for,” Trump said. “They have done things over the last month that I think were really unthinkable. Nobody thought this could happen.”
The summit also marked an emotional day for reunions. The remaining 20 living Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity on Monday — many meeting with loved ones at a hospital in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, many Palestinians are returning to the Gaza enclave to find destroyed homes and neighborhoods. Gaza health officials attribute the destruction and the 68,000 Palestinian deaths to Israeli military actions.
In front of world leaders, Trump urged lasting peace and reconciliation in the region.
“But today, for the first time, anyone can remember, we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us,” Trump said.
Neither representatives for Hamas nor Israel attended the summit in Egypt.
