Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Egypt on Monday to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, where world leaders gathered to witness the signing of a landmark peace agreement aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.
The summit follows a two-year-long Israeli offensive in the Palestinian enclave that has left more than 67,000 people dead, as rescue teams continue to recover bodies from the rubble.
The peace initiative, mediated last month by US President Donald Trump with support from eight Muslim nations, resulted in a 20-point plan to end the violence. In the first phase, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, marking a major step toward de-escalation.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the summit emerged from diplomatic efforts launched during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Upon arrival, PM Shehbaz called the peace plan a “crucial step toward lasting peace in the Middle East,” expressing gratitude to President Trump and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for their roles in brokering the deal.
“Grateful to our co-hosts, President El-Sisi and President Trump. We would not have seen this moment without President Trump’s outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment,” Shehbaz said on X. “It took his single-minded pursuit of peace to end the needless killing and destruction.”
He added that the agreement marks the “closing of a genocidal chapter,” urging the international community to ensure such tragedies never happen again. PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a free Palestine within pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, co-chaired by Trump and Sisi, is being attended by over 20 world leaders, including UK PM Keir Starmer, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The European Council President Antonio Costa and the UN Secretary-General are also participating.
Notably, Israel and Hamas have both declined to attend the summit directly. Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office confirmed no Israeli representation, while Hamas stated it will continue to operate through Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
The summit aims to formalize the truce, strengthen regional stability, and pave the way for lasting peace and reconstruction in Gaza.
