Trump in Sharm el-Sheikh: ‘Everyone’ wants in on Board of Peace and ‘building,’ not ‘rebuilding,’ of Gaza

After several world leaders were left waiting for hours for his arrival from Israel, US President Donald Trump touched down in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday evening to co-chair the Palestinian-Israeli Peace Summit with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Trump’s visit, his first to Egypt, began with a meeting with Sisi, followed by individual photographs with the attending world leaders and proceeded with formality, from Egypt’s bestowal of the Nile Order on Trump to his state-by-state acknowledgments of the more than 31 leaders in attendance.

Upon arrival, Trump was quick to praise to the press Egypt’s role in mediating the ceasefire, namely the role Sisi played with Hamas. “Hamas respects this country and the leadership of Egypt, so he played a very important role. I appreciate it very much,” Trump told journalists at the airport. 

He also praised Sisi’s role in Egypt’s internal matters, noting that the country is “doing very well” despite, as he later noted, “challenges.”

Trump stressed the importance of Egypt’s role going forward, too. When asked if Sisi would take part in the “Board of Peace” — the vision put forward by the White House for Gaza’s governance, which one regional diplomat likened to the restitution of a protectorship — he responded, “I hope so.”

He later added that many world leaders had expressed interest in being on the board and that it could be expanded to accommodate them.

Also praising Sisi’s leadership and committing to relations with Egypt going forward was Steve Witkoff, who took the opportunity during a bilateral press conference between Trump and Sisi to say that US representatives will stay in Egypt for “quite a bit” as details of the ceasefire agreement are still being ironed out.

In what he called a “pretty gruesome task,” Trump said during the bilateral meeting that work was underway to find the remaining bodies of Israeli prisoners in Gaza.

He mentioned later how “incredible” it was for those released to be reunited with their families, without sparing comment for the thousands of Palestinians still thought to be missing under the rubble as well.

Less time was dedicated throughout the evening to what the future will consist of beyond the prisoner exchange and the board of peace’s formation.

The later phases of the ceasefire outlined in the White House’s 20-point plan are the more contentious, with regional actors divided over the proposed structure of Gaza’s governance, the mandate and composition of an international peacekeeping force, and the framework for reconstruction.

In his address, Sisi stressed the mainstays of Cairo’s position, including an insistence on Palestinian self-determination and the two-state solution — eventualities to which neither Trump nor Netanyhu have committed.

Trump did, however, announce to reporters that the second phase of the agreement had already begun as soon as he landed in Sharm el-Sheikh.

In his closing speech, and one of his only references to “the people of Gaza,” he expressed anticipation for what he called not the “rebuilding” but the “building” of the Gaza Strip from scratch, after joking earlier about the wealth of the Arab leaders standing behind him at the podium.

From his side, Sisi expressed during the bilateral meeting his desire for Trump’s “sponsorship” of the Gaza Reconstruction Summit that Egypt had announced months ago to take place after a deal is reached.

After Trump accepted his invitation, Sisi took the opportunity to announce later in his speech that Egypt would work with the United States and other partner-countries in “laying the common foundations” to move forward with reconstruction without delay.

Egypt has convened discussions regarding Gaza’s reconstruction since early 2025.

During the meeting, Trump also initially announced that “all the big leaders” were present at the summit, adding “everybody that we invited came.”

He later expressed surprise, however, to find that the United Arab Emirates’ Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was not present.

Last minute confusion also ensued regarding Israel’s representation in Sharm el-Sheikh. 

The Egyptian presidency announced on Monday morning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would be in attendance, only for Netanyahu’s office to issue a statement hours later declining to attend.

The summit closed with leaders entering discussions without press attendance.