Journalism of Courage
US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday signed the Gaza ceasefire deal document, aimed at restoring peace in the Middle East after two years of bloody war.
The document was signed during the international summit hosted by Egypt in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh on the same day Hamas released all twenty living hostages as part of its first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
US President Trump proposed the 20-point ceasefire deal last month, after which Arab mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey played major roles in bringing Hamas and Israel to agree on ending the hostilities and releasing the hostages.
“It’s going to hold up,” Trump said as El-Sisi, Erdogan and Sheikh Tamim signed on the ceasefire deal document.
Interestingly enough, Israel and Hamas, the two parties who are expected to uphold the peace plan, had no representation at the signing ceremony.
Trump, who flew to Egypt after addressing the Israeli Parliament earlier in the day, called the Gaza ceasefire agreement “historic” while adding that “nobody thought this could happen.”
The US President expressed confidence that “after years of suffering and bloodshed, the war in Gaza is over.
“Humanitarian aid is now pouring in, including hundreds of truckloads of food, medical equipment, and other supplies, much of it paid for by people in this room.
“Civilians are returning to their homes, the hostages are reuniting [with their families],” Trump said.
“A new and beautiful day is rising and now the rebuilding begins,” he said while expressing his “tremendous gratitude to the Arab and Muslim nations who helped make this incredible breakthrough possible.”
Trump also thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, among others, for their support that made the Gaza ceasefire possible.
