The Gaza peace summit represents the first coordinated international attempt to establish a sustainable framework for Gaza’s recovery following years of warfare
Gaza: World leaders gathered in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday for a major Gaza peace summit co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The high-level meeting aims to consolidate the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, expand humanitarian aid, and initiate the first phase of a multi-stage peace plan.
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Despite the international participation, both Israel and Hamas skipped the summit. Over 20 world leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attended. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also confirmed his presence, pledging Germany’s support for maintaining stability and humanitarian operations in Gaza.
The summit’s first phase focuses on ensuring the continuation of the truce, accelerating humanitarian deliveries, and arranging prisoner exchanges. Later phases are expected to address governance structures, troop withdrawals, and Hamas disarmament.
The peace effort follows two years of devastating conflict that left Gaza City in ruins. Bulldozers have begun clearing debris as tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians return to shattered neighbourhoods. According to the UN, around 92 per cent of Gaza’s residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands in tents and makeshift shelters.
Aid convoys coordinated by the Egyptian Red Crescent and UN agencies have been slowly entering Gaza, though Israeli inspection delays have slowed the process. Around 400 trucks carrying essential supplies and 50 fuel carriers are expected to cross the Rafah border in the coming days.
In a related development, 45 international activists detained by Israeli forces while attempting to breach the Gaza blockade aboard a flotilla were released and arrived in Jordan after several days in custody. The group included nationals from Europe, North America, and North Africa.
Displaced residents returning to Gaza have described scenes of total devastation. “The city is rubble, destruction. Everything is destroyed,” said Reem Zidiah, a displaced woman. “We’ve lost everything. We need everything.”
UN special rapporteur Balakrishnan Rajagopal warned of severe psychological trauma among returnees, urging Israel to permit the immediate delivery of tents and caravans to the north of Gaza.
Published: 12 Oct 2025, 04:43 pm IST
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