1. The Summit Basics
US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are co-chairing an international peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday (October 12, 2025). The gathering brings together leaders from more than 20 countries to formalize and strengthen the Gaza ceasefire agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described it as "a unique historic event," while British officials are calling it "a historic turning point for the region after two years of war and bloodshed."
2. Unprecedented Global Participation
The summit has attracted an extraordinary lineup of world leaders, including:
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
- Leaders from Greece, Cyprus, Japan, India, Canada, Hungary, and several Arab nations
Notably, Iran has been invited to participate, while Israel will not be represented at the summit.
3. Summit's Core Objectives
According to the Egyptian presidency, the summit aims to "end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability." The gathering will focus on consolidating the fragile ceasefire, coordinating international support for implementation, and charting a path toward broader regional stability.
4. Hostage Release Begins Monday Morning
In a critical milestone, Hamas has confirmed that the release of 48 hostages will begin Monday morning. Of these, 20 are believed to be alive, with the remainder being deceased individuals whose remains will be returned. Israeli government pointman Gal Hirsch has informed families that living hostages will be handed over first, followed by remains in "a painful and respectful ceremony."
5. Major Prisoner Exchange Underway
In exchange for the hostages, Israel will release approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza held without charge during the two-year conflict. The Israel Prison Service has already transferred detainees to deportation facilities at Ofer and Ktzi'ot prisons, awaiting final political instructions.
6. Humanitarian Aid Flowing Again
Humanitarian aid trucks have begun entering Gaza through border crossings, delivering desperately needed food and medical supplies. The agreement stipulates five entry points for aid, with the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt set to reopen "for individuals in both directions starting Wednesday" under EU monitoring mission supervision, with police presence from Italy, Spain, and France. Aid deliveries are expected to increase from 400 to 600 trucks daily.
7. Multinational Monitoring Force Deployed
A 200-strong multinational monitoring force, overseen by the US military, will supervise ceasefire implementation. The force includes soldiers from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE, tasked with ensuring "no violations or incidents" of the ceasefire. US CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper is leading efforts to establish a joint control center to monitor the cessation of hostilities.
8. Arab and Muslim Nations Commit to Gaza Demilitarization
Under Trump's peace plan, Arab and Muslim countries have committed in writing to demilitarize Gaza and decommission the military capabilities of Hamas and other armed groups. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt issued a joint statement pledging to engage with the US to advance implementation of the Gaza peace plan.
9. Trump to Address Israeli Knesset Before Summit
President Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday morning, where he will address the Knesset and meet with families of hostages before proceeding to Egypt for the summit. This marks a significant diplomatic engagement demonstrating US commitment to the peace process. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza, finding their homes largely destroyed but determined to rebuild.
10. Challenges and Next Phases
Despite the optimistic atmosphere, significant challenges remain. Hamas has indicated potential difficulties in locating some deceased hostages' bodies within the 72-hour deadline. The question of Gaza's post-war governance remains unresolved, with Hamas agreeing to hand over administration to "a Palestinian body of independent technocrats" but not agreeing to complete disarmament. Negotiations for phase two are expected to begin immediately after hostage releases, addressing complete Israeli withdrawal timelines, long-term security guarantees, and regional reconstruction efforts.
The summit's outcomes will likely determine whether this ceasefire can evolve into a lasting peace agreement and serve as a foundation for broader regional stability in the Middle East. With the ceasefire now in its third day and holding, the international community is watching closely as this historic diplomatic effort unfolds.*
Photo/Invitation: Twitter