Trump, world leaders gather in Egypt for ceasefire deal signing with Netanyahu absent
- NewsBlend360
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
BY NEWS BLEND 360
Updated 3:11 PM EDT, October 13, 2025
President Donald Trump joined over 20 global leaders in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday to discuss Gaza's future, coinciding with the initiation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
The summit included Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and officials from Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.
The group posed for a family photo in front of a "Peace 2025" sign before a ceremony to sign the ceasefire agreement.
Trump, along with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, signed the document with other world leaders seated behind them. Trump remarked that it would "spell out a lot of rules and regulations and lots of other things."
"This took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it? And it's going to hold up too. It's going to hold up,” Trump stated during the signing. The document's exact content remains unclear, and the White House has not yet disclosed it.
Trump also spoke about the breakthrough, calling it a turning point for the region.
"This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for. They have done things over the last month that I think were really unthinkable. Nobody thought this could happen. With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered," Trump said.
Notably absent from the signing ceremony and talks in Egypt were representatives from Hamas and Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office cited the Jewish holiday as the reason for his absence, despite a direct invitation from President Trump.
Earlier, Trump and Netanyahu praised each other during Trump's address to Israel's parliament. Trump called Netanyahu “one of the greatest” wartime leaders, and Netanyahu referred to Trump as Israel's "greatest friend" ever in the White House.
At the Knesset, Trump proclaimed a "new dawn in the Middle East," asserting the war in Gaza was over, despite upcoming challenges in maintaining peace.
Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday, and Israel freed Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement, leading to emotional reunions in Tel Aviv and Gaza as families reunited.
Trump touts 'historic dawn of a new Middle East' in Knesset speech
However, many questions remain about what comes next, including the extent of President Trump's personal involvement in shaping a post-war Gaza.
Trump mentioned that the second phase of his proposed peace plan is underway, though he provided little detail.
"Well, it started. I mean, it started as far as we’re concerned," Trump said while seated with el-Sisi upon arriving in Sharm El-Sheikh. "Phase two has started. And, you know, the phases are all a little bit mixed in with each other."
The U.S. president also seemed to focus next on Iran, encouraging the country to seize this opportunity to collaborate with the administration on a peace deal.
"We are ready when you are and it will be the best decision that Iran has ever made, and it's going to happen," Trump stated during his Knesset speech.
Trump reiterated this point while answering questions alongside Egypt's president.
"I think Iran will come along. They've been battered and bruised. You know, they need some help. They have big sanctions, as you know, tremendous sanctions. I'd love to take the sanctions off when they're ready to talk," Trump said.
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