Donald Trump has signed a landmark peace agreement between Israel and Hamas in front of world leaders gathered in Egypt, marking what he described as an incredible day for the world.
Sir Keir Starmer was in attendance at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, sitting amongst more than 20 heads of state who flew to the Red Sea resort to witness the signing ceremony.
The US President spoke to the assembled press about the details of the agreement, occasionally turning to address individual world leaders about their roles in supporting the peace deal for Gaza.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Trump made a dramatic claim about the significance of the moment, saying this took 3,000 years, before asking, can you believe it, adding confidently that it’s going to hold up.
The President declared this is an incredible day for the world and claimed the deal would avert a Third World War, which he suggested could have erupted in the Middle East without the agreement.
Historic Dawn of New Middle East
President Trump, aboard Air Force One, touched down at Sharm el-Sheikh shortly before 3:30pm for the summit after spending the morning addressing the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem.
In his earlier address to Israel’s parliament, the President hailed today as a historic dawn of a new Middle East and declared that the long nightmare for both Israelis and Palestinians was over.
He told Israeli lawmakers that after so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace.
Trump received a rapturous reception in the Knesset, with members repeatedly chanting his name and giving him prolonged standing ovations throughout his lengthy speech.
All 20 Living Hostages Freed
Earlier today, the Israeli military confirmed that Hamas has now handed over all 20 living hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for 738 days.
The hostages were released in two batches, with seven freed in the early morning and the remaining 13 handed over to Red Cross officials hours later.
Emotional scenes unfolded across Israel as the former captives were reunited with their families after more than two years of captivity under harrowing conditions.
In exchange for the living hostages, Israel released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and approximately 1,700 detainees from Gaza held without charge since October 7, 2023.
However, complications emerged regarding the deceased hostages, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum announcing that only four bodies out of 28 would be returned today, not all of the remains as initially expected.
Four Guarantor Nations Sign Agreement
Mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey also signed the document on the Gaza ceasefire deal alongside the United States, with the four nations serving as guarantors of the agreement.
The leaders of the guarantor nations held up the pages of the declaration with their signatures before photographers, marking the formal commitment to the peace plan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and representatives from Qatar joined Trump at the signing table, with each playing a key role in brokering the complex agreement.
Trump praised Egypt’s involvement in particular, telling reporters that they had a very important role with Hamas, adding that the general was very instrumental because Hamas respects this country and they respect the leadership of Egypt.
Starmer Pledges UK Support
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Egypt on Sunday evening ahead of the signing ceremony, with Downing Street confirming he would pay particular tribute to Trump at the summit.
Speaking at the event, Starmer thanked Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for bringing us to this point, as well as Trump, before calling for continued coordination to secure swift progress towards phase two of the truce.
The Prime Minister announced that Britain will pledge £20 million to help provide water and sanitation for Gaza and confirmed the UK will host a three-day conference to coordinate plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and recovery.
However, UK claims about their role in securing the deal sparked controversy, with Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel saying the opposite was true when asked whether Britain had played a key role.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s comments that Britain played a key role delusional, adding that she can thank Trump anytime just to set the record straight.
World Leaders Rally Behind Agreement
More than 20 world leaders attended the summit, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres also attended the historic gathering.
Trump took individual photographs with world leaders beside a massive sign reading PEACE 2025 before they all came together for a group picture marking the occasion.
The President told reporters that in another room, you have the wealthiest nations in the world, adding that all the big leaders are here, with the emirs and the kings and everybody, describing it as a very interesting group of about 35 countries.
Neither Israel Nor Hamas Present
Notably absent from the summit were representatives from Israel and Hamas, with neither side invited to attend the signing ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had initially been expected to attend but declined the invitation, citing a Jewish holiday, though Trump had brokered the invitation during their journey from the airport to the Knesset.
Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran told AFP in an interview that the group will not be involved, explaining that Hamas acted principally through Qatari and Egyptian mediators during negotiations.
Phase Two Challenges Ahead
Speaking to reporters alongside Egyptian President el-Sisi, Trump said that phase two has started, adding that the phases are all a little bit mixed in with each other.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told the Associated Press that the success of Trump’s vision for peace depends on his continued commitment to the process, including applying pressure on the parties, engagement and even deployment on the ground with international peacekeeping forces.
Trump’s 20-point plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza along its border, whilst an international force comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries would be responsible for security inside the enclave.
Major challenges remain ahead, including disarming Hamas, establishing new governance structures for Gaza, and coordinating the massive reconstruction effort.
The World Bank estimates that at least £42 billion ($53 billion) will be needed to rebuild the shattered Palestinian territory, with Egypt planning to host a future reconstruction conference.
The ceasefire agreement marks the end of the two-year war that began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza.
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