Global Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh: Trump and 20 World Leaders Convene to Address Gaza Crisis

Egypt and the US will co-host the "Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit" on Monday, bringing together leaders from over 20 countries to discuss implementing the newly agreed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The summit comes just days after the ceasefire took effect, ending two years of devastating war in Gaza.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and US President Donald Trump will jointly chair the summit. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty and his American counterpart Marco Rubio have been coordinating the arrangements, focusing on how to carry out the first phase of the Israel-Hamas agreement.

This initial phase includes prisoner and hostage exchanges, plus maintaining the ceasefire that began over the weekend. Israeli forces have already pulled back to designated positions in Gaza as part of the deal.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced he'll travel to Egypt on Monday to join discussions about Trump's broader plan for ending the Gaza conflict. The American president's proposal includes deploying an "international stabilization force" in Gaza - something Egypt strongly supports.

Sisi has been pushing for international troops in Gaza and wants the UN Security Council to give the ceasefire agreement official backing. During a phone call with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, Sisi emphasized that all parts of the agreement must be implemented fully.

Egypt is also planning to host an international conference focused on rebuilding Gaza. The territory has suffered massive destruction during the two-year war, and reconstruction will require significant international coordination and funding.

The timing matters for regional stability. Egypt has been a key mediator throughout the conflict, and hosting this summit positions Cairo as central to any long-term peace efforts. For investors and regional markets, successful implementation of the ceasefire could signal reduced geopolitical risk and potential opportunities in reconstruction projects.

But the real test comes in the weeks ahead. The ceasefire is just the first step in what's meant to be a multi-phase process. How well the international community coordinates on Gaza's future - and whether the agreement holds - will determine if this summit marks a genuine turning point or just another temporary pause in the conflict.