Trump urges leaders to put aside “old differences” at the Gaza peace summit – National

American President Donald Trump The world called on Monday for a new era of harmony in the Middle East during a global summit on… Gaza Future, in an effort to promote broader peace in the region after the visit Israel To celebrate American mediation cease-fire with agitation.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put old differences and bitter hatred behind us,” Trump said, urging leaders “to declare that our future will not be governed by the battles of past generations.”

The lightning trip, which included the summit in Egypt and Speech in the Knesset These talks, which took place in Jerusalem earlier today, come at a fragile moment of hope to end two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

“Everyone said it couldn’t be done. It will happen. And it’s happening before your eyes,” Trump said alongside the Egyptian president. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Nearly thirty countries are participating in the summit, including some countries from Europe and the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He was invited but declined, with his office saying it was too close to a Jewish holiday.

Trump, Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a document that Trump said would lay the foundation for Gaza’s future. However, a copy has not been released to the public.

Despite unanswered questions about the next steps in the Palestinian enclave, which was devastated during the conflict, Trump is determined to seize the opportunity to achieve elusive regional harmony.

He expressed a similar sense of resolve about the war between Israel and Hamas in his speech in the Knesset, in which he was hailed as a hero.

“You have won,” he told Israeli lawmakers. “Now is the time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”

Trump promised to help rebuild Gaza, urging the Palestinians to be “forever converted by terror and violence.”

“After tremendous pain, death and hardship, now is the time to focus on building up their people instead of trying to tear down Israel,” he said.

Trump even made a gesture at Iran, where it bombed three nuclear sites during the country’s brief war with Israel earlier this year, by saying: “The hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”

Trump’s whirlwind journey

Trump arrived in Egypt hours late because speeches in the Knesset lasted longer than expected.

“They may not be there when I get there, but we’ll try,” Trump joked after criticizing Israeli leaders for talking too much.

Twenty hostages They were released on Monday As part of an agreement aimed at ending the war that began on October 7, 2023, with an attack by militants led by Hamas. Trump spoke with some of their families in the Knesset.

A woman said to him: “Your name will be remembered for generations.”

Israeli lawmakers chanted Trump’s name and gave him standing ovation after standing ovation. Some people in the audience wore red “Make America Great Again” hats similar to his, although these versions said “Trump, Peace President.”

Netanyahu praised Trump as “Israel’s greatest friend ever in the White House,” and promised to work with him moving forward.

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He said: “Mr. President, you are committed to this peace. I am committed to this peace.” “And together, Mr. President, we will achieve this peace.”

Trump, in an unexpected turn during his speech, called on the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu, whom he described as “one of the greatest” wartime leaders. Netanyahu faces corruption charges, although several hearings were postponed during the conflict with Hamas.

The Republican president also used the opportunity to settle political scores and thanked his supporters, criticizing his Democratic predecessors and praising a major donor. Miriam Adelsonin the audience.

Trump is pushing to reshape the region

The moment remains fragile, as Israel and Hamas are still in the early stages of implementing the first phase of Trump’s plan.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement stipulates the release of the last hostages held by Hamas. Release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel; increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza; A partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the main cities in Gaza.

Trump said there was an opportunity to reshape the region and reset long-strained relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

“The war is over, okay?” Trump told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One:

“I think people are tired of that,” he said, stressing that he believes the ceasefire will hold because of that.

He said the chance for peace was made possible by his Republican administration’s support for Israel’s annihilation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The White House said momentum is also building as Arab and Muslim countries show a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening ties with the United States.

In February, Trump predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more cautious.

“I haven’t known anything about the Riviera for a while,” Trump said. “It exploded. This looks like a demolition site.” But he said he hopes to visit the area one day. “I’d like to put my foot on it, at least,” he said.

The two sides did not agree on governing Gaza after the war, rebuilding the Strip, and demanding that Israel disarm Hamas. Negotiations on these issues may collapse, and Israel has hinted that it may resume military operations if its demands are not met.

Much of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble, and the Strip’s population of approximately 2 million continues to suffer in desperate conditions. Under the agreement, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help facilitate the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are suffering from famine.

Nearly 200 U.S. troops will help support and monitor the ceasefire agreement as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations, and private sector actors.