Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, said that the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit represents a “day of hope for peace,” emphasizing that the first thought that comes to mind is the victims of wars.

During an interview with journalist Fayrouz Maki on Cairo News Channel, Costa added that this summit marks a new step towards the peace everyone needs, noting that Egypt, as the host of the summit, has taken important steps and measures over two years to achieve these positive results, including holding the summit and the ceasefire.

Costa thanked Egypt and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in particular for their continuous efforts, stressing the importance of the international community’s presence to support the Trump peace plan and its related commitments.

He explained that today represents the first step on a long road, and that the European Union is committed to supporting the security sector, humanitarian aid, and the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip to ensure lasting peace in the region.

Regarding the EU’s contribution to Gaza’s reconstruction, Costa said the Union provides effective support in security and other fields, including ensuring the opening of the Rafah crossing and providing police training. He pointed out that 1.6 billion euros have been allocated to support the Palestinian Authority over the next two years to enhance governance and reforms and ensure a democratic transition without terrorist operations.

Costa concluded that the large presence of world leaders at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit reflects the international community’s engagement in supporting the peace plan, expressing hope for its success for the benefit of the region and the world.