US President Donald Trump is making a lightning trip to Egypt today, where he is expected to be in the tourist resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for the signing of the agreement of the same name between Israel and Hamas. Visiting Israel earlier, the US President will address the Knesset, meeting with the country's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, before heading to Egypt, where preparations for the historic meeting are in full swing.
For the security of the approximately 20 top leaders from around the world, Egypt has activated a 24-hour operations center, while "we have increased readiness to maximum in all sectors of the city," said the governor of South Sinai, Major General Khaled Mubarak, as the Red Sea resort has been placed on maximum alert.
In an idyllic setting, US President Donald Trump and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi will chair the Peace Summit with the participation of leaders from more than 20 countries, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
It should be noted that the "Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement" aims to end the conflict in Gaza, with the Egyptian presidency noting that the objectives of the Summit are:
– the cessation of hostilities,
– strengthening efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East and
– the “opening of a new page” in regional security.
At the same time, the tourist resort where the Summit will take place has become impregnable, as Egyptian authorities announced that the country's police and armed forces have increased security levels with fixed and mobile checkpoints on the streets, as well as with the full activation of cameras throughout the city. At the same time, the licenses of medical personnel have been suspended and hospitals have been put on alert. For precautionary reasons, operating rooms, ambulances and specialized medical teams remain on standby, while stocks of medicines and supplies have been increased.
"The war is over, do you understand?"
Donald Trump assured yesterday, Sunday, on the presidential plane that departed to transport him to Israel and Egypt, that the war in the Gaza Strip is "over." "The war is over. Do you understand that?", the Republican told reporters accompanying him, responding to a question about Israel's conflict with Hamas.
Shortly before boarding the plane at Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington, the tycoon called his visit to the two states “a very special moment.” “Everyone is looking forward to this moment,” he insisted, umbrella in hand in the drizzle.
Other top officials – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Wing Commander Dan Kaine – are also aboard Air Force One.
Mr. Trump, who was enthusiastically applauded by a crowd in Tel Aviv last Saturday, also stressed that the agreement for the first phase of "peace in Gaza", announced last week, is causing satisfaction, both in Israel and in Muslim and Arab countries.
"The whole world is clapping at the same time, we've never seen this before. Generally, if one person applauds, the other doesn't," the tycoon commented. "This is the first time that the whole world (…) is happy, it's an honor for us to participate," he added.
The list of the Synod
At the same time, the list of leaders, heads of state and prime ministers adds international legitimacy to the "Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement", while Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to participate in the work, according to information from Axios. As is United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is set to travel to Egypt for this purpose.
Among the European leaders who will participate in the Summit are: the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, the French President, Emmanuel Macron of France, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, as well as the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Greek Prime Minister will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, postponing for this reason his meeting today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Johann Wadephul.
On the other hand, both Hamas and the Israeli government will be absent, while the role of Qatar, which contributed greatly to creating a channel of credibility in the negotiations, is described as crucial.
At the Brussels level, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, is expected to participate in the Gaza Summit, traveling to Egypt, where he "will represent the European Union at the ceremony of the Middle East Peace Plan," according to a statement from his spokesman yesterday.
According to Politico, “the plan offers a real opportunity to build a just and sustainable peace and the EU is fully committed to supporting these efforts and contributing to its implementation,” said the Spokesperson of the President of the European Council, which welcomes the peace process.
Source: protothema.gr
