Trump hails ‘peace in the Middle East’ as leaders sign Gaza declaration
US president signs document with the leaders of Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, capping a major diplomatic breakthrough in the Israel-Gaza war
US President Donald Trump hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle East” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners.
Trump made a lightning visit to Israel, where he lauded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to parliament, before flying to Egypt for a Gaza summit where he and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey signed the declaration on Monday as guarantors to the ceasefire deal.
“This is a tremendous day for the world, it’s a tremendous day for the Middle East,” Trump said as more than two dozen world leaders sat down to talk in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
He later declared that the assembled leaders had “achieved what everybody said was impossible”.
Trump signs Gaza ceasefire deal in Egypt
“At long last, we have peace in the Middle East,” Trump said in a speech.
According to the declaration, the signatories pledged to “pursue a comprehensive vision of peace, security and shared prosperity in the region”, and also welcomed “the progress achieved in establishing comprehensive and durable peace arrangements in the Gaza Strip”.