On Monday, October 13th, during a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, President Trump urged countries to set aside old grievances and work together to usher in a new era in the Middle East.
In his speech, the President emphasized the historical significance of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the importance of countries coming together.
“We have collectively achieved a change of historic significance in the past few days,” he said. “This is the first time in this Middle East crisis that we have come together instead of being divided, declaring that our future will not be determined by the struggles of past generations.”
“Therefore, let us join hands and continue to uphold the spirit of cooperation and goodwill, as it is this spirit that ultimately led us to this incredible historic breakthrough,” the President said.
Trump also stated that today, “we are presented with an unprecedented opportunity to leave behind past grudges and hatred… If we walk hand in hand, we can realize an extraordinary destiny for the Middle East – to make it a secure, prosperous, and beautiful crossroads, where culture and commerce, faith and humanity converge.”
In addition to ending the Gaza war, Trump also emphasized a bright vision for the Middle East in his speech.
“The significant breakthrough we are celebrating tonight is not just the end of the Gaza war – with God’s help, this will mark a brand new beginning for a beautiful Middle East… We can build a strong, stable, prosperous, and united region, completely rejecting the path of terrorism.”
Trump mentioned that his 20-point Gaza peace plan is currently progressing, and some leaders present will be appointed as members of the “Board of Peace.”
The mission of the “Board of Peace” is to oversee a Palestinian committee composed of technical bureaucrats. This Palestinian committee will implement temporary transitional governance in Gaza post-war, responsible for providing public services and daily municipal operations for the Gaza citizens.
For the people of Gaza, the focus now must be on restoring basic needs for a better life, “We will have a substantial amount of funding flowing into Gaza and embark on extensive reconstruction work.”
“We all agree that the support for Gaza must be aimed at helping local residents improve their lives. We do not want funds to be used to support anything related to bloodshed, hatred, or terrorism,” the President said. “We have also reached a consensus that the reconstruction of Gaza must be based on ‘demilitarization,’ allowing a new, honest police force to create a safe environment for the people of Gaza.”
After his speech, Trump had private “brief conversations” with the leaders present.
As the host of the peace summit, Egyptian President Sisi called on the Israeli people in his speech, “Let us take this historic moment as a new starting point for justice and peaceful coexistence. Let us look forward together to a brighter future for our descendants.”
“Mr. President, let the Gaza war be the last war in the Middle East,” Sisi said to Trump.
President Sisi also stated that achieving peace “requires outstanding individuals who can take bold measures like President Trump.”
This summit not only attracted regional leaders but also saw the attendance and support of European leaders from countries such as France, the UK, Italy, and Germany. Additionally, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau was also present at the Egypt peace summit.