The city of Sharm El-Sheikh is preparing to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump and world leaders to attend the signing of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip between Palestinian resistance factions and Israeli occupation forces after two years of military conflict that claimed thousands of Palestinian lives. Trump is scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Monday to attend the summit.

Trump confirmed during a White House press conference that he will visit Egypt to witness the signing of the Gaza agreement, noting that many world leaders have been invited and will attend. Masad Boulos, U.S. President’s advisor for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, praised Egypt’s efforts to reach the ceasefire agreement, emphasizing that the peace deal will open the door to stability and security throughout the Middle East.

In an interview with Euronews, Boulos added that Trump’s visit to the Middle East this week to witness the signing is a true achievement supported fully by the Arab, Islamic, and European worlds. The peace agreement will bring hope for comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, ending decades of conflict. He also stated that 200 U.S. troops will be sent to Israel to monitor all parties’ adherence to the agreement to ensure stability.

American forces have started arriving in Israel to support and monitor the ceasefire implementation. The U.S. force will be stationed at the Hatzor Airbase near Ashdod in the Israeli-occupied territories close to the Mediterranean coast. According to CNN, up to 200 U.S. soldiers will be on the ground in Israel to oversee the Gaza plan’s execution, although no American troops will be deployed inside the Palestinian territory.

Palestinian children in displacement camps in the devastated Gaza Strip celebrated the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement, expressing gratitude to Egypt for its continuous efforts over two years to stop the war and save Palestinian lives, draped in Egyptian and Palestinian flags, highlighting the deep relations.

Britain, France, and Germany praised the roles of President Trump, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar in the Gaza ceasefire agreement in a joint statement following a phone call between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The leaders welcomed the release of prisoners and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of the first phase of the ceasefire implementation.

Thousands of Palestinians have returned on foot to their homes in northern Gaza, beginning their journey home with the ceasefire taking effect for the first time in six months, walking north along the coastal road, according to Palestinian media. Nearly half a million Palestinians living in northern Gaza were displaced due to the Israeli military incursion, many eager to return.

Israeli occupation forces withdrew to newly agreed positions on Friday morning. Hamas is expected to release 20 live Israeli detainees early next week, after which Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving long sentences in Israeli prisons, as well as 1,700 others arrested during the war.

The brutal war on Gaza destroyed or damaged over 90% of Gaza’s homes and most infrastructure. Almost all residents were displaced multiple times. Malnutrition is widespread, and some areas suffer famine, according to UN-supported food experts. Over 67,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed during the Israeli attack, with casualties expected to rise. Medical teams plan to use the ceasefire period to recover bodies trapped under rubble.

The ceasefire is expected to be accompanied by increased humanitarian and medical aid to Gaza through all five crossings from Israel, though details on timing and logistics remain unclear. Israeli army radio reported that Israel will allow 600 aid trucks into Gaza daily, but relief agencies consider this amount insufficient.