International Summit on Israel-Hamas Peace Process
Leaders from over 20 countries are convening in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss the next steps in the Israel-Hamas peace process.
The summit is co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. Participants include Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with various Arab and European leaders.
Hamas will not participate, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not confirmed his attendance.
The release of all 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday morning has raised hopes for an end to the conflict. However, unresolved issues remain, such as the governance of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas, which Israel insists upon. Currently, Hamas is demanding the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
A U.S.-proposed peace plan suggests the deployment of an Arab-led international force to maintain security in Gaza, with Israeli forces withdrawing from the areas where these forces are deployed. The plan also includes the potential establishment of a Palestinian state, a concept not yet accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This summit occurs two years after Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities and 251 kidnappings. The subsequent Israeli offensive has significantly damaged Gaza, causing the deaths of approximately 67,000 Palestinians and displacing 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents.
