France's President Emmanuel Macron arrives for the Gaza Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on October 13, 2025. AFP
As the long-awaited Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit is convening under the co-chairmanship of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Middle East had entered “a decisive stage to end the war.”
European Council President António Costa also hailed the event as “a rare moment of hope.”
The summit, one of the most significant gatherings since the start of the Gaza war, aims to consolidate the newly established ceasefire, speed up humanitarian access, and launch political and reconstruction efforts for the war-torn territory.
Macron: Legal int'l framework
Macron reaffirmed that the Palestinian Authority must play a role in governing Gaza, stressing France’s coordination with the United States and support for Egypt’s mediation efforts.
“There must be a legal international framework for any international force in Gaza,” he said. “France is coordinating closely with the United States regarding Gaza’s future, and the Palestinian Authority must play a central role.”
He added that France is ready to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction once a clear security and governance structure is in place.
Macron also praised Egypt’s “key efforts to promote peace and stability across the region,” saying that Paris is “working alongside Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to consolidate stability and support Gaza’s reconstruction.”
He emphasized that France’s top priority is to strengthen peace and security across the Middle East.
Starmer: A decisive stage
Prime Minister Starmer said on his official social channels that the region had entered “a crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East,” urging collective responsibility to ensure that the ceasefire represents “not just the end of fighting, but the beginning of peace.”
“We must achieve lasting peace and a secure future for the region,” he said, reaffirming the UK’s readiness to help rebuild Gaza and support the steady flow of humanitarian aid.
Costa: Rare moment of hope
Representing the European Union, President Costa described the summit as “a rare moment of hope for the Middle East,” welcoming the ceasefire’s implementation and the initial release of captives as “a decisive step toward peace.”
“The European Union will continue to support international efforts to uphold the ceasefire in Gaza and advance a lasting peace that ensures security for both Palestinians and Israelis,” he said.
In a statement on Sunday, Costa added that the EU plans to take an active role in reconstruction and humanitarian coordination, including reactivating its border-monitoring mission at Rafah.
The Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit brings together more than 25 world leaders and regional organizations, including the United Nations, Jordan, Italy, Spain, and Indonesia, along with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.
The meeting follows the start of the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, under which the first captives were released and Israeli forces began phased withdrawals from parts of Gaza.
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