Trump declares Gaza war over and urges broader regional peace, ahead of Sharm el‑Sheikh summit

📌 Key Facts

• President Trump publicly declared in the Knesset that the Gaza war is "over," celebrated the recent hostage releases, and used the visit as a victory lap while urging a broader regional peace that he said should "embrace the opportunities" with Arab states and explicitly include outreach to Iran.
• Trump urged President Herzog to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu during the Knesset speech, praised supporters including Miriam Adelson, repeatedly asserted Israel had "won," and said he might meet freed hostages at Sheba Medical Center after running late to the Sharm el‑Sheikh summit.
• A Sharm el‑Sheikh "Summit for Peace," co‑chaired by President Trump and Egypt’s President el‑Sisi to back the Gaza ceasefire, was expected to last about two hours with a joint Trump–el‑Sisi statement; participants were to include leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and top UN/EU representatives, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attended.
• There are conflicting reports about Netanyahu’s attendance: Axios reported Trump secured Netanyahu’s participation via a call to Sisi and urging during their drive from Ben Gurion, but multiple outlets (Fox News, PBS) report Netanyahu will not attend the summit, citing proximity to the Jewish holidays Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah; his decision drew public criticism from Israeli opposition figures.
• U.S. CENTCOM personnel were confirmed to be deployed on the ground in Israel by Sunday to monitor the ceasefire; reporting detailed the team’s composition and specialties and said none of the U.S. personnel will enter Gaza. Adm. Brad Cooper, who participated in Sharm talks, is now in Israel and officials said a command center could be operational in roughly 2½ weeks.
• U.S. officials (per Vice President J.D. Vance) and Egyptian officials said Muslim‑majority countries have expressed readiness to contribute ground forces to secure Gaza; Egypt confirmed some countries’ readiness and said Cairo would commit troops within a U.N.‑mandated framework — with Egyptian officials urging continued U.S. engagement and a U.N. Security Council resolution to authorize and define the international force’s mission.
• Reporting emphasized that, despite the ceasefire, key issues remain unresolved: a multinational security force and arrangements for interim Gaza governance require further negotiation and a Security Council pathway to authorize and define the mission.
• Context: Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages, Israel began freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Israeli troops pulled back from parts of Gaza, and aid organizations were preparing large shipments into Gaza as leaders gathered to endorse the ceasefire.

📰 Sources (10)