U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-chair a high-level peace summit alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aimed at consolidating the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and restoring long-term peace to the Gaza Strip.

According to the Egyptian presidency, the summit seeks “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability.”

President Trump, who is reportedly running behind schedule, is expected to head directly to his plane to join the gathering as soon as possible. The meeting will also evaluate the ongoing implementation of Trump’s 20-point Middle East peace plan, which has guided much of the diplomatic progress seen in recent months.

World Leaders Gather For A New Phase Of Peace Talks

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit brings together more than 20 global leaders and diplomats, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The leaders are expected to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire agreement, post-war reconstruction efforts in Gaza, and mechanisms to ensure humanitarian aid continues to reach affected civilians.

Peace analysts say the summit’s outcome could shape the region’s political landscape, especially if the proposals align closely with Trump’s deal, which emphasizes security guarantees for Israel and political reforms within Palestinian leadership.

Debate Over Gaza’s Future Leadership

A key issue under discussion is the possible involvement of Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA) in administering Gaza once Israeli forces complete their withdrawal. Trump’s plan leaves the door open for the PA’s participation, “contingent on various reforms” but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed such an arrangement.

The Palestinian Authority currently governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On the sidelines of the summit, Abbas met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the ongoing Israeli troop pullout from Gaza, according to reports from Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Hostage Release And Prisoner Exchange Mark Ceasefire Progress

In a significant breakthrough, all 20 remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas for more than two years have been released as part of the peace deal. The hostages were first handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross before being reunited with their families under the coordination of the Israeli army.

Reports indicate that Hamas allowed several hostages to make brief video calls to their relatives on Monday morning before their release, signaling a new phase of compliance under the mediated truce.

Meanwhile, Israel confirmed it had released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners under the same ceasefire arrangement. The exchange, facilitated by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, has been described as one of the most substantial prisoner releases in years.

Crowds filled the streets of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, to welcome the freed prisoners, waving flags and chanting in celebration of what many view as a step toward reconciliation and justice.

Trump Departs For Egypt Amid Renewed Global Attention

Before departing for Egypt, President Trump was seen boarding Air Force One at Ben Gurion Airport, accompanied by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The two leaders exchanged brief words on the runway before Trump’s departure for the peace summit.

The Sharm el-Sheikh meeting is seen as a critical step in transforming the temporary ceasefire into a lasting peace framework. With world powers now converging to address the humanitarian and political aftermath of the war, expectations are high that this summit could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Gaza and the wider Middle East.

Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering fight for democratic rights and peaceful transition in her country.

Announcing the award in Oslo on Friday, Nobel Committee chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes praised Machado, 58, as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times,” highlighting her “tireless efforts to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Machado has spent years campaigning against President Nicolás Maduro’s government, which much of the international community considers illegitimate. Despite repeated threats to her life and being forced into hiding for much of the past year, she has remained in Venezuela, continuing to push for reform.

The Nobel Committee described her as a unifying force within the country’s fractured opposition, saying she had inspired millions by choosing to remain in Venezuela despite the risks.

Machado was barred from running in last year’s presidential election, which saw Maduro secure a third term in a vote widely dismissed as neither free nor fair. Still, she managed to unite opposition groups behind Edmundo González, the candidate who replaced her on the ballot, and continued to campaign from hiding after the election results were announced.

In a video statement, Machado expressed surprise and humility over the award, saying it was “the achievement of an entire society.” González also celebrated the announcement, describing it as a recognition of “a woman and a people fighting for freedom and democracy.”

The committee warned that democracy is “in retreat” globally, citing Venezuela as one of several nations where the rule of law and freedom of expression are under threat.

There were 338 candidates nominated for this year’s prize, though their names will remain secret for 50 years, in line with Nobel tradition.

Among those who missed out was U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly sought the award, claiming credit for ending several global conflicts. Following the announcement, the White House accused the committee of “placing politics over peace.”

Frydnes said the decision was based solely on Alfred Nobel’s original principles, noting that Machado’s courage and persistence “embody hope for the future.”

Machado’s recognition marks a defining moment in Venezuela’s pro-democracy struggle and places renewed global attention on the country’s ongoing fight for freedom and political change.