On Monday, October 13th, US President Trump arrived in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh after concluding his visit to Israel to attend a world leaders’ summit aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. During the summit, Trump signed the Gaza peace plan.
The President arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Air Force One, escorted by Egyptian fighter jets. Last week, indirect negotiations were held between Israel and Hamas in the area, ultimately resulting in an agreement for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, which marked the first phase agreement of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
During the peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, President Trump and leaders of the mediating countries signed an agreement, which was deemed a “very significant signing.”
The White House posted on social media platform X, saying, “Historic moment.”
“President Donald J. Trump, along with leaders of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, signed the Gaza peace plan to promote peace in the Middle East,” the White House said.
Trump thanked all world leaders who contributed to advancing the Gaza peace process.
“I thought this might be the toughest, and maybe in a lot of ways it is, but we have a lot of very exceptional people,” the President said. “We have some great talent, especially with the help of representatives from various nations here.”
“Everyone is very happy,” Trump continued, stating that “I’ve made big deals before,” but “this one took off like a rocket.”
Before signing the document, Trump said, “This document will clarify rules, regulations, and many other contents.”
The President expressed his gratitude to world leaders supporting the Gaza peace plan. “They want to straighten out the Gaza situation. They want to straighten out the whole situation. Things have gotten crazy now,” he said. “They always say World War III will start in the Middle East, and that can’t happen now.”
Trump met with Egyptian President Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh. Sisi stated that Trump is the “only one capable” of ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Sisi told Trump in front of reporters, “It is our great honor and joy to meet you in this city of peace.”
“I have always been very confident that only you can achieve this goal and end this war. I even made it clear to you during our communication that you are the only one who can bring peace,” he added.
Sisi mentioned that now world leaders need to ensure the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is maintained, ensure the bodies of remaining deceased hostages in Gaza are returned to their families, and ensure humanitarian aid can enter Gaza.
He also emphasized that the follow-up steps of the ceasefire plan need to be pushed forward “very vigilantly.” Egypt looks forward to Trump’s support at the Gaza reconstruction conference.
Trump also praised the role Sisi played in the Gaza agreement. “He (Sisi) played a very crucial role. I am very grateful,” Trump said, also mentioning that Sisi is a strong leader who effectively controlled crime rates in Egypt.
Regarding the implementation of the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, Trump stated that the second phase of the peace plan has already begun. “You know, each phase intertwines with one another,” he said.
Sharm el-Sheikh, the host of the summit, is well-known for hosting sensitive diplomatic negotiations and peace summits. The self-proclaimed “City of Peace” is located between mountains in the southern Sinai Peninsula and is known for its year-round sunshine, world-class diving spots, and rich marine life.
Sharm el-Sheikh has been a venue for high-level talks, especially meetings between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, often involving US participation.
According to CNN reports, during the reign of former Egyptian President Mubarak, Sharm el-Sheikh gained prominence as a diplomatic venue. Its main road, Peace Road, leads to Peace Square, where a monument symbolizing the city’s role as a center for peace negotiations in the region stands.
In 1996, then-US President Clinton co-hosted the Summit of Peacemakers in Sharm el-Sheikh. The summit brought together senior officials from Israel and Palestine. In 1999, then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and then-Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat also met here.
In 2005, then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas held a summit here, announcing the end of the second Palestinian uprising.
After the “Six-Day War” in 1967, Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula, including Sharm el-Sheikh, returning it to Egypt in 1982 based on a historic peace agreement between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Whitekov, along with other senior diplomats of the Trump administration, believe that the desire of the Trump administration goes beyond ending the war, viewing the President’s “20-point plan” as the beginning of advancing a broader peace process in the Middle East.
Rubio stated that Egypt will play a crucial role in implementing the 20-point plan. “They hosted the talks here, and now they’re going to play a very important role in follow-up actions and plan implementations, it’s not just a matter of rebuilding Gaza,” he said, “but changing the region.”
Rubio’s remarks directly refer to the Trump administration’s push for expanding the “Abraham Accords” and potential discussions with Iran for a new nuclear agreement. The Abraham Accords have normalized relations between several Arab countries and Israel.
On his speech in the Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump stated that when Iran is ready, the US is ready to reach an agreement with them.
“This will be the best decision Iran has ever made, and it will happen,” he said.