PM Shehbaz Sharif Attends Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt Amid Ceasefire Deal

By Valentine Uchechukwu Ndukwu

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Egypt on Monday to attend the Gaza Peace Summit, an event aimed at officially ending months of violence between Israel and Hamas.

The summit, co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and the Egyptian President, gathered leaders from over 20 countries, including Turkey, Germany, France, and the U.K. Shehbaz was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar as part of Pakistan’s delegation to the high-level peace ceremony.

The Gaza Peace Agreement marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough, setting the stage for a lasting ceasefire and rebuilding efforts in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

However, Hamas and Iran boycotted the summit, saying they disagreed with parts of the deal and the involvement of certain mediators.

Despite their absence, U.S. President Trump declared that the “war in Gaza is over,” announcing plans to form a Gaza Peace Council to ensure the agreement’s implementation.

As part of the peace deal, a large-scale prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas began on Monday under international supervision.

Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages, including twin siblings, while Israel freed over 1,700 Palestinian detainees and agreed to return the bodies of 28 captives who died in custody.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the exchange “an emotional day of unity,” saying it was a first step toward peace and healing in the region.