Trump urges fresh harmony as Gaza peace begins
Trump vowed to help rebuild Gaza, urging Palestinians to embrace peace, reject violence, and choose a hopeful future forever.
Trump Calls for ‘New Era of Harmony’ at Sharm el-Sheikh Gaza Summit
US President Donald Trump urged world leaders on Monday to embrace a “new era of harmony in the Middle East” as he addressed a global summit on Gaza’s future. The high-profile gathering followed his whirlwind visit to Israel earlier in the day, where he celebrated a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, bringing an end—at least for now—to two years of brutal conflict.
The summit, held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, brought together nearly three dozen countries, including several from Europe and the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though invited, declined to attend, citing religious observances. Still, the air in the grand conference hall was charged with optimism—and an awareness of the fragile peace taking shape.
Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a declaration that Trump described as “a blueprint for Gaza’s future and a pathway toward lasting peace.” The document outlines plans for humanitarian rebuilding, reopening border crossings, and creating an international oversight committee to ensure the ceasefire’s success.
Speaking alongside President el-Sissi, Trump exuded confidence. “Everybody said it’s not possible to do. And it’s going to happen. And it is happening before your very eyes,” he said.
The Gaza deal, reached after weeks of intense negotiations, came into effect as Hamas freed the final 20 hostages still held in Gaza. Trump personally met with some of the freed hostages’ families earlier in the day at the Knesset in Jerusalem. One emotional woman told him, “Your name will be remembered for generations.”
At the Knesset, Trump received a hero’s welcome. Lawmakers repeatedly rose to their feet, chanting his name. Some wore red caps modeled after his famous “Make America Great Again” hats—but these read “Trump, The Peace President.” The Israeli Parliament echoed with cheers and clapping as Trump promised that this ceasefire would mark “not just the end of a war, but the beginning of a new peace.”
“You’ve won,” he told Israeli lawmakers. “Now it’s time to turn those victories on the battlefield into peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.” Netanyahu, who has called Trump “the greatest friend Israel has President, you are committed to this peace. I am committed to this peace. Together, we will achieve it.”
In one surprising moment, Trump went off-script to call on the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges. “He’s one of the greatest wartime leaders,” Trump said, drawing mixed reactions from the crowd.
After his speech, Trump boarded Air Force One and headed to Egypt, arriving later than expected because of extended remarks in Jerusalem. “They might not be there by the time I get there,” he joked. “But we’ll give it a shot.”
Despite the hopeful mood, many questions remain about how Gaza will rebuild. Much of the enclave has been reduced to rubble, with its two million residents living amid severe shortages of food, water, and power. Under the deal, Israel has agreed to reopen five border crossings to allow food and supplies to flow in. Humanitarian agencies say this could help ease famine conditions in northern Gaza.
The ceasefire’s first phase also includes Israel’s partial military withdrawal from Gaza’s main cities, the continued release of prisoners, and an international humanitarian surge led by U.S. and allied forces. Around 200 American troops will work alongside NGOs, Arab partners, and private contractors to monitor and secure the peace.
Trump has framed the agreement not only as a peace effort but as a geopolitical reset. “The war is over, OK?” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “People are tired of it. They’re tired of death. They’re tired of hate.”
He said his goal was to “reshape the region” and foster cooperation between Israel and its Arab neighbors—a vision that once seemed out of reach. “This is not just a ceasefire,” Trump said. “This is a chance to build something beautiful—something that will last for generations.”
As the sun set over the Red Sea, leaders posed for a final photo, holding the freshly signed Gaza declaration. The smiles were cautious, the handshakes firm but not effortless. Yet for millions of Israelis and Palestinians watching from afar, it was a rare glimpse of hope after years of heartbreak.
Whether the peace holds will depend on what comes next. But for one day, in Sharm el-Sheikh, the world dared to believe that the Middle East could begin again.