Trump arrives in Egypt – Countdown to the historic summit with the participation of 20 lea
Source: ProtoThema English
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Macron: The two-state solution is the only way forward
French President Emmanuel Macron told journalists upon his arrival in Sharm el-Sheikh that the next step toward lasting peace in the Gaza Strip will be the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He added that France will play a special role in ensuring that the Palestinian Authority is included in the future governance of Gaza and described the presence of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the summit as “a very good sign.”
“It is the recognition of the role of the Palestinian Authority as a legitimate body,”
he said, adding that the Palestinians must be “at the center of Gaza’s governance.”
Trump: “The second phase of negotiations has already begun”
Speaking to journalists in Sharm el-Sheikh about when the second phase of the negotiations would start, Donald Trump said,
“As far as we’re concerned, it has already begun.”
“The second phase has started, and as you know, all the phases are somewhat interwoven,”
Trump added, standing beside President el-Sisi.
El-Sisi: Enough with war — welcome peace
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump to his country.
In a Facebook post shortly after Trump’s arrival in Egypt, el-Sisi stated that at the upcoming Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh,
“the will of the peoples is united with the determination of the world’s leaders to end the war in Gaza.”
“Everyone is sending a single message to humanity: Enough with war — welcome peace,”
he said.
“A historic day for the Middle East,” says Chancellor Merz from Egypt
Chancellor Friedrich Merz described today as “an important day in the history books” for the Middle East and for the entire world, expressing hope that a “phase of peace” is now beginning — one in which Germany is ready to contribute. Merz thanked the mediators and reiterated that his country stands firmly by Israel, while calling on President Trump to now use his influence to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
“The war in Gaza is over,”
declared the Chancellor from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is being formalized today.
“We are here to sign an important document through which we hope a phase of lasting peace, good cooperation, and stability in the region will begin,”
he added, thanking “all those who made this day possible,” referring to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, U.S. President Donald Trump “for his commitment and clear stance in this conflict,” the Emir of Qatar Hamad al-Thani, and the Turkish government.
“Germany stands with Israel — this has always been true and will remain so,” Merz emphasized, expressing relief at the release of the last remaining hostages held by Hamas, including four Germans. The Chancellor also reaffirmed Germany’s willingness to contribute to efforts so that people in Gaza can once again have access to humanitarian aid, medicine, water, and shelter.
Merz went on to express hope that President Trump would also use his influence with the Russian government to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
“We must not forget that just a few hours away by plane, Russia’s war against Ukraine has been raging for the past three and a half years. What we see here is that when the international community stands united, peace is possible. But for us in Europe, the war in Ukraine remains the greatest threat to our freedom,”
he said, adding that he would have the opportunity to discuss the issue with Donald Trump later today.
Leaders meet in Sharm el-Sheikh ahead of Trump’s arrival – See photos
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Four bodies to be returned – The identities of the victims
Today, four bodies of hostages are expected to be returned, with the Israeli organization for the release of hostages claiming that the ceasefire agreement is being violated.
In a statement issued by the armed wing of Hamas, it was announced that the four bodies of hostages to be handed over to Israel have been identified as Guy Ilouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez.
These are the leaders and officials who will take part in the Egypt summit – See the list
The Egyptian authorities have announced the leaders who will participate in the international summit hosted in the city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday afternoon.
According to the official Egyptian news agency, the “Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit” will include the participation of heads of state and monarchs:
- President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
- President of the United States Donald Trump
- King of Jordan Abdullah II
- Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
- King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa
- President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas
- President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
- President of Indonesia Joko Widodo
- President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
- President of France Emmanuel Macron
- President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides
The agency also reports that prime ministers from several countries will attend, including:
- Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz
- Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer
- Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni
- Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez
- Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis
- Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan
- Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán
- Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif
- Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney
- Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre
- Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Rashid
- Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Sabah
Developments in the Middle East: Hostages Released and Diplomatic Efforts Underway
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Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
In a major development in the Middle East, the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas have returned to Israel after more than two years in captivity. This comes as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The bodies of up to 28 deceased hostages are still to be returned, a process expected to proceed gradually with no clear timeline.
Prisoner Releases and Exchanges
Israel has begun releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the terms of the agreement. Of these, 88 were transferred to the West Bank and over 150 were deported to other countries, including 154 to Egypt. Many of the released prisoners have significant health issues after long-term detention, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
U.S. Involvement and the Role of Donald Trump
President Donald Trump, who visited Israel and spoke at the Knesset, described the events as “the historic dawn of a new Middle East.” He praised the hostages’ return but emphasized that Hamas’s disarmament remains under negotiation. Trump subsequently traveled to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-chair a peace summit on Gaza with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Trump’s delegation included senior U.S. diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Whitkov, who met directly with Hamas officials to finalize the hostage release and ceasefire deal. The summit in Sharm El-Sheikh has drawn leaders from around the world, emphasizing international commitment to peace and reconstruction efforts.
European and U.K. Support
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the U.K.’s experience with Northern Ireland and the IRA as a model for supervising the ceasefire and the disarmament of Hamas. Starmer also pledged £20 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza, supporting water, sanitation, and healthcare infrastructure, while hosting an international conference on the region’s reconstruction.
Germany’s leaders, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, welcomed the release of hostages, noting that some were of German descent. They emphasized that the families of deceased hostages deserve the dignity of a proper farewell.
The European Union also hailed the release as a critical step toward peace, with President Ursula von der Leyen and High Representative Kaya Kallas stressing the EU’s readiness to support governance, reconstruction, and border monitoring.
Security Concerns and Ongoing Tensions
Despite the progress, tensions persist. Hamas continues to struggle with internal conflicts and confrontations with local factions in Gaza, resulting in casualties. Israel has accused Hamas of failing to comply fully with its commitments, particularly regarding the return of deceased hostages.
In Europe, authorities in Germany have issued warnings about potential threats from Hamas networks, highlighting the importance of vigilance even amid diplomatic progress.
Humanitarian Toll
The humanitarian cost of the conflict has been severe. Since October 7, 2023, at least 67,869 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, with 170,105 injured. Many victims were civilians, including women and children.
Next Steps
The Sharm El-Sheikh summit aims to consolidate the ceasefire, advance peace negotiations, and coordinate international aid for Gaza’s reconstruction. While the return of living hostages marks a historic milestone, the broader effort to achieve lasting peace in the region requires continued diplomacy, humanitarian support, and oversight to ensure all parties honor their commitments.
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