ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reached Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to attend a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war, his office said on Monday.

Egypt has said the peace summit aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and usher in a new phase of regional security and stability.”

The US president will lead the summit alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi with leaders from more than 20 countries in attendance. No Israeli or Iranian official is attending the forum. 

The United States, along with Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye, has mediated what has been described as a first phase agreement between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire, a mutual exchange of hostages and prisoners, an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza and increased humanitarian aid. The ceasefire was held for the fourth day on Monday.

In an X post, Sharif called the signing ceremony of the Gaza peace plan “a crucial step toward lasting peace in the Middle East.”

“Today’s ceremony marks the closing of a genocidal chapter, one that the international community must ensure is never repeated anywhere again,” Sharif said, lauding Trump’s “outstanding leadership” for securing the peace deal.

“The brave and resilient Palestinian people deserve to live in a free Palestine, with pre 1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharif as their capital city.”

On Sunday, the foreign office said Pakistan hoped the summit would pave the way for the “full Israeli withdrawal, protection of Palestinian civilians, an end to their displacement, release of prisoners, addressing of the prevailing grave humanitarian situation, as well as reconstruction of Gaza.”

“Prime minister’s participation in the summit reflects Pakistan’s historic, consistent, and unwavering support for the just cause of the Palestinian people for their right to self-determination as well as for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region,” it added.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 injured in the Gaza war which has displaced over 1.9 million people. The conflict has left much of the enclave in ruins and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.