Shortly before 8 pm on Monday, October 13, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, a beaming Donald Trump held up a document and claimed that it would guarantee peace in Gaza. "Together, we have achieved what everybody said was impossible. At long last, we have peace in the Middle East," he said. In the main hall of the seaside resort's conference center in Egypt, giant letters spelling out "Peace 2025" underscored the historic significance of the moment. From there, the American president staged his triumph.

In front of a polite audience of leaders, Trump presented the document he co-signed with the other leaders who are expected to guarantee its implementation: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also present were French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He lauded a "lasting peace will be one in which both Palestinians and Israelis can prosper with their fundamental human rights protected, their security guaranteed, and their dignity upheld." What commitments could he offer to back up his promises? "Rules and regulations and lots of other things," said Trump. The broad declarations of intent differed from the 20-point plan that he had unveiled on September 29.

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