UN Chief Attends Peace Summit in Egypt
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is set to attend an international peace summit in Egypt on Monday, which is co-hosted by US President Donald Trump. Interestingly, this event coincides with the planned release of all remaining Israeli hostages as part of the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement facilitated by Trump.
A representative from the Egyptian presidential office confirmed the summit’s details on Saturday, indicating its focus on “ending the war in the Gaza Strip, enhancing peace and stability in the Middle East, and launching a new chapter of security within the region.”
According to his press secretary, Guterres, a prominent member of Portugal’s Socialist Party, will be in Egypt for the Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit and intends to return to UN headquarters by Wednesday.
Interestingly, Guterres has been observing the developments of this deal from the background but now seems keen to join the discussions, likely influenced by the positive momentum generated by Trump’s efforts.
The summit, taking place in eastern Sharm el-Sheikh, will host representatives from over 20 countries.
There are reports suggesting that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and Spain’s Pedro Sanchez might also be in attendance.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will be co-chairing the summit. The gathering’s objective is, as stated by the Egyptian presidency, to “end the war in the Gaza Strip, bolster peace efforts, and inaugurate a fresh phase of security and stability in the region.”
This process is largely attributed to Trump’s diplomatic initiatives, which have aimed to unify all involved parties and move towards a lasting peace agreement.
In terms of the ceasefire agreement’s first phase, Hamas is expected to release all Israeli hostages—20 who are alive and about 28 presumed dead—by midday on Monday. In exchange, Israel plans to free around 250 Palestinian prisoners of war as well as 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while also increasing humanitarian aid to the area.
