Erdogan joins Peace Summit on Gaza truce pact in Egypt

(MENAFN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took part on Monday in the signing ceremony of a declaration of intent to end the war in Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. His participation came at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, according to reports.

Before the event began, Trump personally greeted Erdogan at the International Convention Center, where the two exchanged a brief conversation and posed for photographs. A group photo of all attending leaders followed Trump’s formal welcome to the summit participants.

The proceedings commenced with the arrival of dignitaries from various nations, after which the US president delivered the opening remarks. Erdogan, Trump, Sisi, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani later signed the declaration aimed at achieving lasting peace in the Gaza Strip.

"We seek tolerance, dignity, and equal opportunity," for everyone, ensuring that this region allows all individuals to pursue their dreams in peace, security, and economic prosperity, regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity, the leaders said in the agreement.

"We pursue" a holistic vision of peace, security, and collective prosperity, rooted in mutual respect and a sense of shared destiny, the agreement said, adding: "In this spirit, we welcome the progress achieved in establishing comprehensive and durable peace arrangements in the Gaza Strip, as well as the friendly and mutually beneficial relationship between Israel and its regional neighbors."

The signatories pledged to cooperate in sustaining and advancing this vision, emphasizing the importance of building lasting institutions that would allow future generations to "thrive together in peace."

"We commit ourselves to a future of enduring peace," they added.

After signing the document, the leaders gathered for an official group photo to commemorate the occasion.

Following the summit, Erdogan returned to Türkiye, accompanied by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and the president’s chief adviser on Foreign Policy and Security, Akif Cagatay Kilic.

According to reports, the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal—part of Trump’s broader initiative to end a two-year Israeli military campaign in the enclave—came into effect on Friday.

Earlier that same day, Palestinian detainees began to be released from Israeli prisons following Hamas’ release of all 20 surviving Israeli captives from Gaza.

Since October 2023, Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have reportedly killed more than 67,800 Palestinians in Gaza—most of them women and children—leaving much of the territory in ruins and largely uninhabitable.

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