International Leaders Convene in Egypt to Finalize Gaza Peace Agreement

An international summit is set to take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The summit aims to finalize an agreement to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza and promote peace and stability in the Middle East. Leaders from over 20 countries, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron, are expected to attend.

The summit follows a ceasefire and prisoner-swap deal reached between Israel and Hamas after intensive indirect talks in Sharm el-Sheikh. The negotiations were mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, with participation from U.S. envoys. The agreement marks the first phase of President Trump's peace plan for Gaza, laying the groundwork for post-war governance and reconstruction efforts.

Under the terms of the deal, Israeli forces have completed their withdrawal to a designated line inside Gaza. Over the next three days, Hamas is required to release all 48 captives still held, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel and Hamas are expected to continue discussions on subsequent phases of the plan, addressing issues such as Hamas disarmament and post-war administration.

The European Union has expressed its commitment to contributing to transitional governance, recovery, and reconstruction processes to ensure the success of the 'day after' scenario, including continued support to the Palestinian Authority. These efforts aim to pave the way for long-term stability grounded in the two-state solution, with Israel and a State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security.

In a related development, three Qatari diplomats were killed, and two others injured, in a car crash approximately 50 kilometers from Sharm el-Sheikh while en route to the summit. The victims were part of Qatar's protocol team preparing for the event. Plans are in place to repatriate both the deceased and the injured to Doha.