Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (EFE).— United States President Donald Trump and the leaders of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar signed on Monday in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh an agreement formally ending two years of war in the Gaza Strip.
Before a table flanked by flags and a backdrop of some 30 world leaders, including Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the four signatories sealed and raised the document containing Trump’s plan to end the conflict that began on Oct. 7, 2023.
“It was a great obstacle. But everything went so well that nobody could believe we were here, certifying and finishing everything, and everyone was happy. I have never seen so much happiness,” Trump said, standing beside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as the other leaders looked on.
“The most important deal ever signed”
Trump, who has long touted his negotiating skills, compared the Gaza peace accord to his previous deals.
“I’ve closed many agreements before, but this one took off like a rocket, and it did so from the beginning,” he said. “For years I’ve heard that this is the most important deal.”
He described the agreement as “the biggest and most complex” peace document ever reached in the Middle East, claiming it prevented a potential global conflict.
“This region could have caused tremendous problems, like World War III. That’s not going to happen,” he declared. “We don’t want it to start anywhere, and it’s not going to start here. So I just want to thank everyone.”
Before the signing, Trump said the document includes “many rules and regulations” and builds upon previous accords involving Israel and Hamas.
“Finally, after maybe 3,000 years, some say 3,000, others 500, but whatever it is, it’s a long time—this is the one. It’s the biggest of all, and frankly, I thought it would be the hardest. And in many ways, it was,” he said.
Praise for regional leaders’ role
Throughout his remarks, Trump repeatedly praised the roles of his counterparts.
He described Egypt’s al-Sisi, Qatar’s Al Thani, and Turkey’s Erdoğan as “the greatest, most powerful, and wealthiest leaders.”
“This happened because everyone came together and wanted to solve the situation in Gaza,” he continued. “They wanted to solve the whole issue. It reached a point where it was madness. And once we met and started talking, everything went smoothly.”
Diplomats say the Sharm el-Sheikh summit capped weeks of negotiations among delegations from the four mediating nations.
The agreement follows the initial phase of a ceasefire deal, already in effect, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, and an exchange of hostages and prisoners.
“The next step will be rebuilding Gaza, ensuring disarmament, and establishing a framework for governance,” a senior Egyptian official told EFE, describing the accord as “a roadmap for regional stability.”
Hope for a “new era” in Gaza
World leaders present at the signing applauded after the four heads of state lifted the signed document for photographers.
According to Trump, the agreement “marks the beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity” in the Middle East.
“This is not just about ending a war,” he said. “It’s about giving people hope, and giving both sides a chance to live in peace.” EFE
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