World leaders gathered in Sharm El Sheikh on Monday to sign a peace agreement formally ending the war in Gaza and laying out a framework for postwar reconstruction. The Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit was co-chaired by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and US President Donald Trump as part of an Egyptian-American initiative to consolidate peace efforts in the Middle East.

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Who was in attendance: The gathering brought together leaders from more than 25 countries — including Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Turkey, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, India, and the UAE — along with the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League chief, and the European Council president, according to an Ittihadiya statement. The summit followed the 9 October signing of the Sharm El Sheikh Agreement, mediated by Egypt, the US, Qatar, and Turkey. The accord sets the stage for a complete ceasefire, phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, and expanded humanitarian access to Gaza.

The summit concluded with the signing of a joint document by the mediating countries reaffirming support for the agreement’s implementation. Leaders underscored the need to sustain the ceasefire, complete prisoner exchanges, and ensure the full delivery of humanitarian aid. Trump said the agreement “ends the war in Gaza and opens a new horizon for the Middle East.”

What’s next? UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said the next 60 days will focus on ensuring food reaches all 2.1 mn people in Gaza — “famine must be reverted in areas where it has taken hold and prevented in others” — increasing nutrition screening, and delivering more essential medical commodities and supplies. Water, sanitation, shelter, and education also made the list of priorities.

Egyptian officials said Gaza will be managed by a 15-member technocratic council supervised by an international Board of Peace, a US-backed oversight body that will monitor the delivery of aid and coordinate reconstruction. The World Bank and Egypt estimate rebuilding Gaza will require USD 53 bn. El Sisi said Egypt will host a donor coordination conference to accelerate reconstruction financing and ensure transparency in project implementation.

Ahead of the summit, El Sisi met French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Jordan’s King Abdullah, as well as German, Italian, British, Canadian, and Saudi leaders, to align reconstruction priorities.

But not everyone was in attendance: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t attendthe summit, citing a religious holiday, though his office said he “appreciated” the invitation. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attended the summit. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the accord “focuses mainly on Gaza” and urged further clarity on the status of the West Bank and Palestinian statehood

El Sisi and Trump met ahead of the summit. The two leaders discussed regional developments and ways to strengthen Egyptian-American cooperation in advancing peace and stability in the Middle East, according to an Ittihadiya statement. El Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and stressed that the US role remains a “necessary guarantee” for achieving durable peace. Trump, for his part, emphasized Washington’s intention to back Gaza’s reconstruction and called on American companies to expand investments in Egypt, adding that the US would support Egypt through international financial institutions.

Despite the progress, some challenges still threaten the agreement’s durability. Key issues remain unresolved including Hamas’ refusal to disarm, Israel’s partial troop withdrawal, and the question of who will govern Gaza once the fighting fully stops, the Associated Press reports. The US-led plan envisions an international body overseeing Palestinian technocrats and an Arab-led security force, but both Hamas and Israel have pushed back on elements of that framework.

AND- Ittihadiya announced in the run-up to the summit that El Sisi would award Trump the Nile Collar — Egypt’s highest state honor — in recognition of his role in brokering the ceasefire. El Sisi had also told Trump over the weekend that he deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the agreement.

On the sidelines, El Sisi met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the Gaza ceasefire, regional stability, and bilateral relations. Talks covered coordination on conflicts in Syria, Sudan, and Libya, Germany’s participation in Gaza’s reconstruction, and the expansion of German investment in Egypt. El Sisi also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss strengthening cooperation across politics, economics, and trades, with emphasis on energy, agriculture, construction, and tourism.

The summit got ink from the global press: Guardian | Bloomberg | Associated Press | Washington Post | Bloomberg | Financial Times | Bloomberg.

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