In a blog post on the X platform regarding the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, Costa explained: "Hope begins today in Sharm el-Sheikh... Today we celebrate hope and look forward to peace." He expressed his thanks to US President Donald Trump, "all mediators, and everyone who continues to work on this path and never gives up."
Costa emphasized that the joint commitment resulting from the summit will bring the two parties one step closer to a lasting peace based on a two-state solution, and that the European Union stands ready to contribute to the next steps, such as transitional administration, security, and the reconstruction of Gaza. He continued: "The road to peace is still long, yet the international community today is united in its commitment to achieving it."
The summit kicked off Monday evening at the Sharm el-Sheikh Convention Center, with the participation of leaders from more than 20 countries. The summit was co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, with the participation of more than 20 international leaders and officials.
Prominent leaders participating in the summit include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and leaders of France, Germany, Britain, and Spain.
The summit, titled the "Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit," aims to "end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and open a new chapter in regional security and stability," according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency on Saturday evening.
The summit comes after the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect at 12:00 noon on Friday, Jerusalem time (09:00 GMT), after it was approved by the Tel Aviv government at dawn on the same day.
On October 9, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of his ceasefire and prisoner exchange plan, following indirect negotiations between the two sides in Sharm el-Sheikh, with the participation of Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, and under US supervision.
