Trump signs Gaza ceasefire deal
US President Donald Trump has signed a ceasefire deal in Gaza with the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. He also pledged lasting peace in the Middle East.
The US and Arab countries signed the deal in support of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. It came just hours after Hamas returned 20 live hostages and the bodies of four dead hostages to Israel.
“We understand that a lasting peace will be achieved in which both Palestinians and Israelis are protected and their basic human rights are protected, their security is ensured and their dignity is upheld,” the memorandum said.
It added, “We pledge that any future conflict will be resolved through diplomatic negotiations, not through force or protracted conflict. We recognize that the Middle East can no longer bear the burden of protracted wars, deadlocked negotiations, or incomplete and selectively implemented agreements.”
Meanwhile, the agreement allowed Palestinian families in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to reunite with their loved ones. As part of the prisoner swap, Israel released nearly 2,000 prisoners and detainees. 154 of them were deported to Egypt.
Hamas released all living Israeli prisoners held in Gaza and handed over the bodies of four others.
Hours after reuniting with families and friends of the surviving hostages, US President Donald Trump departed for Egypt after addressing the Israeli parliament.
After signing the ceasefire agreement, Trump told the summit, “There is peace in the Middle East now.”
“The next challenge is rebuilding Gaza after two years of war,” he said.
Trump added, “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave behind old conflicts and deep hatreds. Our future will not be controlled by the struggles of past generations.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the summit’s host, organized the event to renew his call for a two-state solution.
It is worth noting that at least 67,869 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war that began in October 2023. In addition, 170,105 people have been injured.
On the other hand, 1,139 people were killed and nearly 200 were captured in Israel in the attack on October 7, 2023.
