Everything is getting ready for Monday, when the agreement between Israel and Hamas will be officially signed, marking the implementation of the first phase of the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump to resolve the conflict in Gaza. The historic ceremony will take place in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, where US President Donald Trump will personally attend, along with some of the most important world leaders. Among them are expected to be British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to give a speech focused on the two-state solution, a position that has been openly opposed by Israel.
Meanwhile, in Israel, the anticipation is focused on the release of the hostages, which according to diplomatic sources is expected to happen immediately after the signing of the agreement. In Tel Aviv, a massive rally held on Sunday evening gathered thousands of citizens demanding peace and an end to the conflict. The rally was also attended by Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, as well as Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and close adviser to the US president.
During their speeches, Witkoff and Kushner praised President Trump for his role in reaching this agreement and emphasized the need for a lasting peace for both sides. From the atmosphere at the rally, it was noticeable that most Israelis attribute the success of this process to President Trump, and not to their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as every time Netanyahu's name was mentioned, the crowd reacted with negative ovations.
On the other side of the border, Palestinians weary of the two-year war have begun to gradually return to northern Gaza, from where they had fled after the intensification of Israeli attacks. According to data from the Civil Defense Agency run by Hamas, about 500 thousand Palestinians have already returned to the north, where most have found only the ruins of their homes. At the Rafah border crossing, meanwhile, dozens of trucks with humanitarian aid are lined up waiting for orders to enter the enclave. The United Nations (UN) has announced that it has prepared enough aid reserves for three months for the entire population of Gaza and has stressed that facilitating the entry of aid is vital for the survival of civilians.
According to the details of the presented plan, the first phase of the agreement includes:
The release of hostages held by Hamas, expected to happen this Monday;
The withdrawal of Israeli troops to the line designated according to the peace plan map;
and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.
A ceasefire is currently in effect, which has made it possible to stop the fighting after a two-year period that, according to international estimates, has caused over 67,000 Palestinian deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries.
The signing of the agreement on Monday is expected to mark the beginning of a new peace process in the Middle East, while the eyes of the world will be directed to Sharm el Sheikh, where history could take a new turn after a long and bloody conflict.
