President Donald Trump on Monday signed the historic Gaza peace deal, surrounded by approving world leaders, who celebrated the president as a pivotal peacemaker and called for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
The president met with hostages and their families on Monday after the hostages were released by Hamas, then spoke to the world in public remarks in Israel. He then traveled to Egypt, where he participated in a Middle East peace summit with other world leaders. The United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signed the much-discussed peace deal before the world.
“It took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it?” Trump said as he signed the historic deal. “And it’s going to hold up, too.”
He also received the “Order of the Nile” from the President of Egypt, the country’s highest state honor, for negotiating the deal between Israel and Hamas. The Order of the Nile is a collar made of solid gold covered in Pharaonic engravings, according to the New Arab. It represents wealth and endurance, protection from evil, and prosperity brought by the Nile.
“Today, for the first time anyone can remember, we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us,” Trump said, as he took the podium after signing the deal. “If we do, together, we will reach the Middle East’s incredible destiny—a safe, and prosperous, and beautiful crossroads of culture and commerce, faith and humanity.”
President Donald Trump in Egypt. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“The momentous breakthrough that we’re here to celebrate tonight is more than the end of the war in Gaza,” the president reflected. “With God’s help, it will be a new beginning for an entire, beautiful, Middle East. From this moment forward, we can build a region that’s strong, and stable, and prosperous, and united in rejecting the path of terror once and for all.”
He also shared that there will be “a lot of money coming into Gaza” that will be used to help rebuild the region.
“I’m pleased to announce that numerous countries of great wealth and power and dignity have come forward to me just today and over the last week to say they want to help in the reconstruction of Gaza, putting up whatever money is necessary,” Trump said. “And the money, of course, it’s a lot of money but it’s not much compared to the value or the wealth of these tremendous countries. And they are ensuring stability and success in the Middle East.”
“Rebuilding is maybe going to be the easiest part,” noted Trump, adding: “We know how to build better than anybody in the world.”
He acknowledged that across the Middle East, but particularly in Gaza and Israel, people have been “working, striving, hoping,” and praying for peace.
That day has finally arrived, the president said.
“They have done things over the last month that I think were really unthinkable,” Trump said. “Nobody thought this could happen. With the historic agreement we’ve just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered.”
As he reflected on the footage of the hostages finally reuniting with their families, Trump said that the “level of love” they are showing one another “is just incredible.”
“A new and beautiful day is rising,” Trump told the world. “And now, the rebuilding begins.”
