‘Peace in the Middle East’: Trump celebrates Gaza peace deal
Caroline MolloyPresident Donald Trump traveled to Egypt Oct. 13 and officially signed the U.S.-backed peace agreement to end the war in Gaza, calling the event “the dawn of a new era” for the Middle East.
Seated beside the leaders of Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, Trump signed the deal during a ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, after months of negotiations.
“This took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it? And it’s going to hold up too,” Trump said as he signed the agreement. “It’s going to hold up.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the peace summit despite an invitation from Trump. Netanyahu cited the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah — which marks the end of the annual Torah reading cycle and the start of a new one — as the reason for his absence, according to The Hill. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs the West Bank, attended the summit and was greeted cordially by Trump. The two men shook hands and exchanged brief remarks.
After the signing, Trump addressed the world leaders and diplomats present.
“This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for,” he declared. “With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible.”
He later added, “At long last, we have peace in the Middle East, and it’s a very simple expression, ‘peace in the Middle East.’”
Trump thanked those involved in brokering the agreement, singling out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he said would “go down as the greatest secretary of state in the history of our country.”
The signing came hours after Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli captives still held in Gaza and Israeli forces completed their withdrawal to the first agreed-upon line. Israel also released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Trump said multiple nations had already pledged major contributions to rebuild Gaza, emphasizing that regional partners would contribute “whatever money is necessary” for reconstruction, though he did not name specific countries.
Several world leaders also used the ceremony to praise Trump’s role in the peace process.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced he is awarding Trump the Order of the Nile, Egypt’s highest civilian honor, praising his role in restoring peace and strengthening U.S.-Egypt relations.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif similarly said he plans to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, joining a growing list of leaders who have already called for the honor.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his official remarks, Trump confirmed that “phase two” of negotiations has already begun. The 20-point peace plan announced by the White House Sept. 29 has four phases.
