New era of peace and stability for Middle East

Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, headed the Sultanate of Oman's delegation participating in the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit, hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt on Monday. The summit was attended by a number of heads of state and representatives of regional and international organisations, to discuss efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and supporting the path of just and comprehensive peace in the region.
During the summit, the 'Peace Document' was signed by the mediating countries — the United States of America, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Türkiye, and the State of Qatar — in the presence of leaders and heads of delegations. This step reflects growing international consensus towards a political solution and de-escalation.
In a statement on this occasion, Sayyid Badr expressed the Sultanate of Oman's appreciation to President Abdel Fattah el Sisi and President Donald Trump for chairing this historic summit. He noted that the past two years have witnessed horrific humanitarian tragedies, and that the ceasefire has saved hundreds of lives and restored hope to thousands of Palestinian families. He emphasised that this moment represents a real opportunity to launch a serious path towards achieving comprehensive and lasting justice for this beloved region of the world.
Sayyid Badr added that the road ahead is still long and fraught with challenges, but that sincere cooperation and joint action enhance the chances of achieving a future of lasting peace and shared prosperity. He emphasised that the Sultanate of Oman will remain a loyal champion of peace and an effective factor in supporting every effort that consolidates the values ​​of understanding, coexistence and the rule of law.
The Sultanate of Oman's participation in the summit comes within the framework of its firm positions calling for the adoption of dialogue and peaceful means to resolve conflicts, and strengthening international and regional efforts aimed at consolidating security and stability and achieving just and lasting peace in the region and the world.
HISTORIC
US President Donald Trump hailed a 'tremendous day for the Middle East' as he and regional leaders signed a declaration on Monday meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged captives and prisoners.
Trump made a lightning visit to Israel, where he addressed the parliament, before flying to Egypt for a Gaza summit where he and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye signed the declaration as guarantors to the Gaza deal.
'This is a tremendous day for the world, it's a tremendous day for the Middle East,' Trump said as more than two dozen world leaders sat down to talk in the resort of Sharm El Sheikh.
'The document is going to spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things,' Trump said before signing, repeating twice that 'it's going to hold up.'
As part of Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving captives after two years of captivity in Gaza.
In exchange, Israel released 1,968 mostly Palestinian prisoners held in its jails, its prison service said.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi that the Gaza deal 'closes a painful chapter in human history and opens a new era of peace and stability' for the Middle East.
Sisi, who signed a declaration with his fellow guarantors of the deal on Monday, said it marked a 'historic day' for peace that set the stage for a two-state solution.
'Not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians and for many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over,' Trump said.
In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, huge crowds gathered to welcome home the first buses carrying prisoners.
And at a similar gathering in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, residents climbed the sides of slow-moving Red Cross buses carrying the prisoners to welcome home their loved ones with a hug or kiss.
In Gaza, too, the ceasefire has brought relief, but with much of the territory flattened by war, the road to recovery remains long.
'The greatest joy is seeing my whole family gathered to welcome me,' Yusef Afana, a 25-year-old released prisoner from north Gaza, said in Khan Yunis. 'I spent 10 months in prison - some of the hardest days I've ever lived.'
In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, meanwhile, Palestinian prisoners released by Israel were met by a cheering crowd so dense that they struggled to get off the bus that delivered them from jail.
'It's an indescribable feeling, a new birth,' newly released Mahdi Ramadan said, flanked by his parents. — Agencies