SHARM EL-SHEIKH SUMMIT SEEKS TO SECURE THE ‘PEACE AGREEMENT
Cairo , Egypt- October 13, 2025
A pivotal moment in the Middle East crisis has arrived as the SHARM EL-SHEIKH SUMMIT SEEKS TO SECURE THE ‘PEACE AGREEMENT’, bringing together global leaders in Egypt’s “City of Peace” to transition the region from a two-year conflict to a new phase of stability. The high-stakes, multi-nation conference is not merely a ceremonial gathering; it is designed to institutionalise the fragile ceasefire and secure international backing for the next, far more complex, phases of the US-brokered peace plan—specifically addressing the future governance, security, and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The summit’s proceedings are inextricably linked to the dramatic events unfolding just hours earlier, including US President Donald Trump’s highly symbolic visit to Tel Aviv as the hostage and prisoner exchange process was set to begin.
THE SUMMIT’S OBJECTIVES: GOVERNANCE, SECURITY, AND RECONSTRUCTION
The Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, brings together leaders from more than 20 countries and international bodies. The gathering’s core mandate is to finalise and rally support for the second phase of the US peace plan. The primary objectives are:
* Securing the Agreement: The central goal is the signing of a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip.” This is expected to be a Guarantor’s Document, signed by the core mediating nations—the US, Egypt, Qatar, and likely Turkey—to solidify the international commitment to uphold the truce and implement the full 20-point peace framework.
* Post-War Governance: The most contentious item is establishing a non-Hamas new governing body for Gaza. The plan calls for a transitional technocratic Palestinian committee, comprising qualified Palestinians and international experts, to handle day-to-day administration. This committee would operate under the oversight of a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” which President Trump has announced he will chair.
* Demilitarisation and Reconstruction: The summit will seek financial and logistical commitments for the monumental task of rebuilding Gaza, alongside agreeing on a framework for the demilitarisation of the Strip. This includes placing weapons permanently beyond use through decommissioning and a buy-back program, all verified by independent monitors. Furthermore, leaders will discuss ensuring the steady and substantial flow of humanitarian aid and materials into the territory.
Attendees include high-level officials from key global and regional players such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and representatives from countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. Their presence underscores the global consensus that this truce must hold.
THE CONNECTION: TRUMP’S STOPOVER IN ISRAEL
The high-profile Sharm el-Sheikh Summit is taking place immediately after President Trump’s dramatic stopover in Israel. This sequencing was a highly calculated move designed to cement the deal’s first phase: the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
* Symbolism in Tel Aviv: President Trump flew directly to Israel to coincide with the planned release of the remaining Israeli hostages by Hamas, a moment of immense national significance for Israel. His visit included a speech to the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) and meetings with the families of the hostages. This visit ensured the US presence was felt in Israel during the most sensitive stage of the truce implementation and allowed the President to personally laud the success of the first phase of the peace plan before asking international leaders to focus on the next, tougher phase in Egypt.
* Political Context: This highly publicised trip to Tel Aviv—the first leg of his Middle East tour—was also a crucial political message, attempting to assure the Israeli public and its divided government that their security concerns were paramount, despite the controversial elements of the overall peace plan, such as the potential release of up to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
THE PRIMARY ABSENTEES: ISRAEL AND HAMAS
In a highly unusual diplomatic arrangement, neither Israel nor Hamas is officially attending the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit. Their absence highlights the deeply sensitive nature of the issues under discussion and the nature of the summit as a meeting of guarantors and global stakeholders rather than primary disputants.
Israel’s Internal Situation
* Governmental Resistance: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government remains deeply divided over the long-term vision of the peace plan, particularly the demands for further troop withdrawal and the idea of a technocratic Palestinian body governing Gaza instead of a government under direct Israeli security control.
* Rejection of Invitation: Israel’s decision to skip the summit underlines its rejection of any imposed international solution for post-war Gaza governance. While the security cabinet approved the initial ceasefire to secure the hostages, the subsequent phases dealing with demilitarisation and political succession remain highly contentious domestically, contributing to the government’s absence.
Hamas’s Strategic Retreat
* Governance Withdrawal: Hamas officials have confirmed that the group will not participate in the transitional governance of Gaza, effectively ending their direct administrative control over the Strip.
* Disarmament Stand: However, the group has drawn a firm red line against disarmament, resisting the core security demands of the second phase of the Trump plan. For Hamas, the ability to maintain its military wing is non-negotiable, despite agreeing to a long-term truce. This fundamental disagreement on disarmament presents one of the biggest threats to the lasting success of the “Peace Agreement” the summit is seeking to ratify.
HEADLINE POINTS:
* CO-CHAIRS: The Summit is co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, with over 20 world leaders in attendance.
* KEY AGENDA: The focus is on securing the Guarantor’s Document to formalise the truce, rally support for the reconstruction of Gaza, and establish a framework for the Strip’s non-Hamas post-war governance.
* TRUMP’S ITINERARY: The Summit follows President Trump’s critical visit to Israel to address the Knesset and meet hostage families, providing political support for the ceasefire’s first phase.
* ABSENTEES: Israel and Hamas are not officially attending, underscoring the political difficulties surrounding the future governance and demilitarisation components of the peace plan.
* CRITICAL HURDLE: The main challenge remains Hamas’s resistance to disarmament, a core security demand of the US peace framework that is essential for long-term regional stability.
