Leaders from more than 20 countries, along with the UN Secretary-General, met in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt yesterday, Monday October 13th, and expressed their support for the Gaza ceasefire agreement and for U.S. President Trump’s plan for peace and the shaping of a New Middle East.
It was expected that Donald Trump would seize the opportunity not only to highlight his success in achieving the ceasefire and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, but also to lay the foundations -with the support of all attendees- for a process that he considers the only path to lasting peace in the Middle East.
In his speech, Trump thanked everyone who attended the summit and along with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signed the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration — a document outlining a broad -and somewhat vague- framework for “the day after,” not only for Gaza but for the entire region.
The Trump Declaration for Lasting Peace and Prosperity promotes a consensual rhetoric of peace, emphasizing cooperation, economic reconstruction, and regional stability, setting the stage for a new phase of political balance in the Middle East.
The text includes a clear reference to the need to eliminate extremism and radicalism. Special emphasis is placed on the religious and cultural significance of the region and the protection of holy sites.
It prioritizes diplomacy as the means to resolve conflicts and presents a vision for the prosperity of the peoples of the region — implicitly recommending the expansion of the Abraham Accords. The declaration acknowledges equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, though without explicit mention of a two-state solution. Notably, the document was not signed by either of the two primary parties — Israel or the Palestinian Authority.
The American president declared: “We achieved the hardest part — now comes the easy part,” reflecting a completely unconventional approach and understanding of the Middle East.
Following the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, the next challenging phase begins: the disarmament of Hamas, the start of Gaza’s reconstruction, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the creation of a Palestinian security force, the formation of an international stabilization mission, and, crucially, the establishment of a Peace Council to oversee Gaza’s governance.
HISTORIC MOMENT.
President Donald J. Trump, alongside the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, signs the Gaza Peace Plan for peace in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/depaxQO8g2
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 13, 2025
