Trump and El-Sisi to Co-Chair International Summit on Gaza Peace Plan in Egypt

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will jointly preside over an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, aimed at advancing Trump’s proposed framework to end the ongoing war in Gaza, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

The meeting will bring together leaders from more than 20 countries, with the goal of halting hostilities in the Gaza Strip, restoring regional stability, and promoting long-term peace and security across the Middle East.

Confirmed attendees include United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and French President Emmanuel Macron. It remains unclear whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or representatives from Hamas will participate.

The announcement coincides with scenes of tens of thousands of Palestinians returning northward along Gaza’s coastline—many on foot or in carts—to the ruins of their homes as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold.

Under the first phase of the agreement, Israeli forces have partially withdrawn from certain areas after months of intense fighting that have left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead and large parts of the enclave devastated and famine-stricken.

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud noted that while the ceasefire has paused active fighting, humanitarian conditions remain dire.

“The ceasefire ended one form of violence, but the struggle continues,” Mahmoud said. “People are walking long distances back to their homes because this land is part of who they are—they refuse to be displaced again. But surviving each night here remains a tremendous challenge.”

Following the ceasefire, Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that over 5,000 public operations have been conducted to restore basic living conditions. These include 850 rescue and relief missions led by the Civil Defence, police, and municipal workers to retrieve bodies, clear debris, and secure damaged neighborhoods.

Authorities have recovered approximately 150 bodies from various parts of Gaza since Friday, with Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis alone reporting 28 recoveries. Additionally, more than 900 maintenance operations have been completed to repair critical water and sewage infrastructure.

However, officials warn that these efforts are severely hampered by Israel’s ongoing blockade, which continues to restrict the flow of fuel, construction materials, and equipment into the enclave. The destruction of ambulances, fire trucks, and civil defense centers during Israeli operations has further weakened emergency response capacity.

The mayor of Khan Younis stated that approximately 85% of the city has been destroyed, estimating that 400,000 tonnes of rubble will need to be cleared from the area.

Calls to Open More Crossings

Humanitarian organizations are urging Israel to reopen additional border crossings to allow vital aid deliveries. The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it is prepared to resume operations at 145 food distribution centers once access is granted. Before the complete blockade in March, UN agencies managed 400 distribution points across Gaza.

“The key now is for Israel to reopen crossings so that aid can reach northern Gaza,” said Antoine Renard, WFP country director for Palestine, speaking from Deir el-Balah.

“During the January ceasefire, about one-third of all supplies entering Gaza came through WFP coordination. We expect similar humanitarian access this time.”

The upcoming summit in Egypt is expected to serve as a pivotal diplomatic platform for coordinating international efforts to secure a sustained ceasefire, expand humanitarian access, and lay the groundwork for long-term peace in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera