President El-Sisi’s Speech at “Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace”

alhadath – cairo

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”

Your Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses,

May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon you all,

I welcome you all to “The Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace”. We convene at this historic watershed moment, having collectively witnessed the successful conclusion of “The Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement to end the war in Gaza”. This achievement heralds the birth of a genuine ray of hope, which promises to close a painful chapter in human history, usher-in a new era of peace and stability in the Middle East, and secure a better future for the peoples of the region, who have been ravaged by conflict.

Today, we welcome the courageous, peace-loving leadership, whose efforts have contributed to ending the conflict and achieving security and development not only in our region, but across the entire world.

Allow me to invite His Excellency, U.S. President Donald Trump, to join the world leaders advocating for peace.

I would like to express our immense appreciation to you and to your wise leadership of this endeavor, which was pursued under exceptionally difficult circumstances, and which was reflected in the plan you put forward to end this tragic war, a war that has cost humanity dearly.

I would like to extend my profound gratitude to our partners in the United States, Qatar, and Türkiye.

I restate our full support for and commitment to the implementation of this plan, thereby generating the necessary political horizon to realize the “Two-State Solution”, as it remains the sole viable path to achieving the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to turn the chapter of conflict and live securely.

Mr. President, you have demonstrated that true leadership is measured not by the initiation of wars, but rather the capacity to conclude them. We have full confidence in your leadership to implement this current agreement and to carry forward your vision through every phase of its execution.

Your Excellency, Mr. President, let the war in Gaza be the last war in the Middle East.

Your Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses,

Egypt launched the peace process in the Middle East nearly half a century ago, specifically in November 1977. It was at that pivotal moment that President Anwar El Sadat, may Allah bless his soul, took resolute and unprecedented steps in the history of the region, embarking on a historic visit to Jerusalem.

Since that moment, Egypt has inaugurated a new covenant, one that delivered a chance at life to successive generations, while substantiating that the security of peoples is not achieved through military might alone. Today, Egypt, alongside its Arab and Islamic sister nations, unequivocally reaffirms that peace remains our strategic choice. Experience over recent decades has conclusively demonstrated that this choice can only thrive when established upon justice and the fundamental equality of rights.

From this standpoint, and given that all peoples of the region enjoy an enduring right to their sovereign nation-states, the Palestinian people are no exception. They, too, possess the inalienable right to self-determination and to envisage a future devoid of the specter of war. They hold the fundamental right to enjoy freedom and live within their own independent state; a state living side by side with Israel in peace, security, and mutual recognition.

Peace is not solely the creation of governments; rather, it is established by the peoples when they grasp that the adversaries of yesterday can indeed become the partners of tomorrow.

I would seize this opportunity to extend a call to the people of Israel:

“Let us ensure this historic moment ushers-in a new beginning for a life defined by justice and peaceful coexistence. Let us look forward together to a brighter future for the children of our nations. Let us join forces to forge a just and durable peace for all peoples of the region.”
Your Excellency, President Trump

We must sincerely reflect upon the scenes of relief and joy that overwhelmed the streets of Gaza, Israel as well as the entire world, following the conclusion of the agreement to end the war in Gaza, thanks to your wise initiative. These scenes offer yet further proof that the common choice of the peoples is, indeed, peace.

We deeply value your dedicated commitment to the restoration of life in Gaza. Egypt will work collaboratively with the United States, and in full coordination with all partners over the coming days, to establish the joint foundations necessary for advancing the reconstruction of the Strip without delay. We intend to host the “Conference for Early Recovery, Reconstruction, and Development”, which will build upon your plan for ending the war in Gaza, with the ultimate goal of providing essential livelihoods for the Palestinians on their land and restoring their hope. Indeed, peace is only complete when the hand of reconstruction extends after the devastation.

Your Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses,

We now envision a luminous future for our region; a future where cities are forged by hope, not one that silences the memories of its citizens beneath the ruins.

We stand before an unparalleled, and perhaps last, historical opportunity. This is the moment to establish a Middle East free from every threat to its stability and progress. It must be a region, where all its peoples enjoy peace and a dignified life within secure borders and with guaranteed rights; a Middle East impermeable to terrorism and extremism and entirely devoid of all weapons of mass destruction.

This is the New Middle East that Egypt aspires to embody in collaboration with its regional and international partners.

Today’s agreement paves the way toward this future. It is therefore essential that we consolidate this agreement, execute all its phases, and ultimately achieve the implementation of the “Two-State Solution”. This must be realized in a manner that secures our shared vision for fostering mutual coexistence among the peoples of the region, and indeed, full integration among all nations of the region.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Before concluding my speech, and in profound recognition of President Donald Trump’s efforts, I am pleased to declare before this esteemed assembly Egypt’s decision to confer upon His Excellency the “Order of the Nile”. This is the highest, most prestigious and most distinguished among Egyptian decorations, bestowed upon Heads of State and those who render monumental service to humanity.

Thank you