By Euronews with AP
Published on
Speaking at a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal and Gaza’s future, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi told world leaders on Monday that US President Donald Trump’s proposal is the “last chance” for peace in the region.
World leaders gathered at the summit in the Egyptian resort city to throw their weight behind the Gaza ceasefire deal, which brought an end to Israel’s more than two-year long offensive on the Palestinian territory that left vast neighbourhoods in ruins.
More than 20 world leaders attended the talks, including King Abdullah of Jordan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the French president and the British prime minister.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was also present at the summit, who is set to potentially join a “Board of Peace” to supervise the interim governance of Gaza under the US president’s plans.
Trump praised the world leaders present at Sharm el-Sheikh saying “this is probably the greatest assemblage of countries in terms of wealth and power maybe ever assembled, and it’s just an honour to be a part of it.”
“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us, and to declare that our future will not be ruled by the fights of generations past,” he said.
The US president also thanked the leaders who he said have helped broker the ceasefire, including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt.
Together with Trump, the leaders of these three countries proceeded to sign the document cementing the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Two-state solution
El-Sissi also reiterated the need for a two-state solution, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed.
Trump’s plan does not rule out the possibility of a Palestinian state, but only following an extended transition period in Gaza and following a reform undertaken by the Palestinian Authority (PA).
President of the European Council Antonio Costa said that a just and sustainable peace must be “grounded in the two-state solution” with the EU committed to contributing to transitional governance, recovery and reconstruction processes, including “by continuing its support to the Palestinian Authority.”
In his speech, El-Sissi also awarded Trump the Order of the Nile, the country’s highest civilian honour.