U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside the leaders of Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, formalized the U.S.-brokered plan to end the war in Gaza by signing a joint declaration at a summit in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.
The ceremony followed the successful release of all remaining living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, a central provision of the initial phase of the agreement.
Addressing the assembled political leaders from across the globe, President Trump struck a confident tone regarding the enduring nature of the accord. “It took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it?” Mr. Trump said. “And it’s going to hold up, too.” He later asserted that the leaders had achieved the “unthinkable,” declaring, “After years of suffering and bloodshed, the war in Gaza is over. Humanitarian aid is now pouring in… The hostages are reuniting. I mean, it’s beautiful.”
The signing ceremony solidified a crucial stage of the ceasefire, which included the return of the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees by Israel.
HISTORIC MOMENT.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 13, 2025
President Donald J. Trump, alongside the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, signs the Gaza Peace Plan for peace in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/depaxQO8g2
Key developments
- All 20 living hostages have been released and returned to Israel.
- 1,968 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been freed.
- Trump and other world leaders signed the Gaza ceasefire deal at the peace summit in resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
- Trump calls for rebuilding phase after prisoner-hostage exchange.
Netanyahu skips peace summit, Erdogan opposes Netanyahu’s attendance
Notably absent from the signing ceremony were representatives from the two principal parties expected to abide by the agreement: Israel and Hamas.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office initially cited a Jewish holiday for his non-attendance, senior officials confirmed that the primary factor was the firm opposition from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Omer Celik, spokesman for Erdogan’s ruling party, publicly affirmed Turkey’s position, stating, “Our president’s stance is absolutely clear. He would never accept being in the same photo frame as Netanyahu. He would not accept being at the same summit. He wouldn’t accept sitting at the same table.”
This strategic exclusion, which also saw the Iraqi Prime Minister threaten to withdraw if Netanyahu attended, highlights the deep political divisions that persist even as a ceasefire is implemented. While Israel was represented by other officials, Turkey’s use of its mediating role to block the Israeli leader from a key ceremonial event exposes the precarious geopolitical dynamics that will continue to challenge the comprehensive implementation of the U.S.-brokered peace plan.
Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees return home
There were scenes of celebration and emotional reunions across Israel, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank as Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners and detainees jailed in Israel were released as part of the historic deal.
Hamas returned the 20 remaining living hostages in Gaza to Israel, additionally handing over the remains of four deceased hostages. In return, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 Palestinian detainees who had been held without formal charge, many for two years, following their detention by Israeli forces in Gaza.
In Gaza, massive crowds gathered to await the return of detainees. In the city of Khan Younis, large crowds surrounded buses carrying the released Palestinians earlier Monday, with nearly 40 buses making slow progress through the throngs at the Nasser medical complex in southern Gaza late in the evening.
The scenes of relief and mass collective joy marked the successful completion of the ceasefire’s first major phase, providing immediate closure for thousands of families on both sides of the conflict line.
Hostage Recovery and Humanitarian Dimensions
The final steps of the exchange concluded a two-year conflict marked by immense casualties. According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli attacks killed at least 67,869 people, with thousands more potentially beneath rubble. Mahmoud, a resident of the area, described the devastation, noting, “We drove by entire neighborhoods that have been leveled to the ground. There is nothing left. There is nothing recognizable about many of the neighborhoods that we knew.”
Despite the successful return of the living hostages, the issue of the deceased remains unresolved. President Trump confirmed that not all the bodies of the deceased Israeli hostages have been found and recovered, stating they are “working out” how to locate the remaining 24 bodies. The remains of four deceased hostages were returned to Israel on Monday.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) helped facilitate the release of the 20 hostages and 1,809 Palestinian detainees. Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the ICRC, emphasized the need for continuity, urging, “More families are waiting anxiously to receive their loved ones and deserve closure. The ceasefire must hold.”
Reconstruction and Fragile Peace
With the ceasefire in effect and all living hostages released, President Trump shifted the focus to the challenging next phase: reconstruction. Having previously addressed the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, where he told cheering lawmakers that “the long and painful nightmare is finally over,” the President was bullish on the future of the territory.
“A new and beautiful day is rising and now the rebuilding begins,” said President Trump. He added that “Rebuilding is maybe going to be the easiest part,” after the arduous negotiations over the peace agreement. He envisioned a future for Gaza as a hub of development and investment.
However, analysts caution that the path to a lasting settlement remains fragile, with major questions regarding the “day after” scenario unresolved. Rob Geist Pinfold, lecturer in International Security at King’s College London, commented that achieving the ceasefire “was very, very important,” but noted, “it’s also the easy part. The real differences are on what comes ‘the day after’.”
Later phases of the plan must address core disagreements, including Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm, which the group has rejected, and Palestinian demands for a state, which the current Israeli government has rejected. The plan stipulates that regional and international partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force. The reconstruction challenge is immense, with estimates suggesting at least $53 billion will be required to rebuild the shattered Palestinian territory. Egypt plans to host a future reconstruction conference to manage this effort.
What’s next in Gaza Peace Plan
The successful conclusion of the initial ceasefire phase, marked by the release of all living Israeli hostages and a large-scale prisoner exchange, now gives way to the significantly more complex and volatile issues of the post-conflict period. The peace remains fragile, with major questions concerning the future of Gaza’s governance and security unanswered.
The first phase of President Trump’s Gaza plan, which succeeded on Monday, secured the release of hostages, freed Palestinian prisoners, and halted the fighting. The more complex second phase, dismantling Hamas and determining Gaza’s governance, has yet to be negotiated.
Among the pressing issues for the next stage are the overall structure of the next phase of negotiations on Gaza, the composition and mandate of the multinational force required to keep the peace, as well as the long-term political trajectory, including whether a Palestinian state will ever be formed.
Subsequent phases of the U.S.-brokered plan will be required to address these core disagreements. While the plan stipulates that regional and international partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force and rebuild the shattered territory – a task estimated to cost at least $53 billion – the breakdown of negotiations over these thornier issues remains a distinct possibility.