Sharm el-Sheikh, Oct 14: A landmark document supporting the recently reached Gaza ceasefire agreement was signed at a summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh by the deal’s four mediators, Egypt, the United States, Qatar, and Turkey, without the direct attendance of Israel or Hamas.
The signing ceremony saw participation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, alongside leaders from over 20 countries and representatives of regional and international organizations, Xinhua reported.
In his address, President Sisi called the agreement a “glimmer of hope”, stating it could close a painful chapter in history and pave the way for a new era of peace and stability in the Middle East. He stressed the importance of fully implementing the ceasefire plan and reiterated support for a two-state solution.
The summit focused on ensuring cooperation among the international community to implement the ceasefire, including:
Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis, and northern Gaza,
The completion of the hostage and prisoner exchange process,
Opening five crossings for humanitarian aid and relief, and
Sustaining a comprehensive ceasefire in the region.
As part of the agreement, Hamas handed over all 20 remaining hostages captured during the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, while Israeli authorities began releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The agreement comes after more than two years of Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in over 67,000 deaths and widespread famine, according to Gaza health authorities and UN-backed food experts.
The Sharm el-Sheikh summit marks a significant step toward restoring peace, delivering humanitarian aid, and stabilizing the Gaza region, while emphasizing international collaboration to uphold the ceasefire.