President Donald Trump has urged Middle Eastern leaders to move beyond historic disputes and embrace peace during a summit in Egypt, following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that ended over two years of conflict in Gaza.
At the Sharm el-Sheikh gathering, attended by nearly 35 countries, Trump said, “We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us,” calling on them to “declare that our future will not be ruled by the fights of generations past.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined the invite because of an upcoming Jewish holiday.
Earlier, Trump received enthusiastic applause at Israel’s Knesset, where he told lawmakers, “You’ve won. Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”
He pledged U.S. support to rebuild Gaza and urged Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.” He also extended a diplomatic gesture to Iran, stating, “The hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”
The summit participants signed a declaration intended to establish Gaza’s future, though its specifics remain undisclosed. The ceasefire’s first phase includes the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas, freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, increased humanitarian aid, and partial Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza.
Trump expressed optimism about a new Middle Eastern dynamic. “The war is over, OK? I think people are tired of it,” he said aboard Air Force One. He credited his administration’s support of Israel’s efforts against Iranian-backed groups as vital and noted Arab nations’ renewed focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and improving relations with the U.S.
Israeli officials warned they may resume military action if demands such as Hamas’s disarmament are unmet. Gaza’s population faces severe hardships, including famine risks.
The deal allows the reopening of five border crossings to ease supply flows. Around 200 U.S. troops will help monitor and support the ceasefire with international partners and humanitarian groups to sustain this fragile peace.