GAZA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Red Sea resort city Sharm el-Sheikh is gearing up to host an international summit on Monday to consolidate the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and advance a broader Middle East process.

The summit comes as Egypt works to sustain the Gaza ceasefire and finalize an agreement to end the war, promote peace and stability in the Middle East, and open a new chapter for regional security and reconstruction, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement on Saturday.

The meeting will be co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump, with participation of leaders from over 20 countries, it said.

It follows a three-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on Friday, after intensive negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh involving delegations from both sides and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States.

Under the first phase of the plan, Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza City, parts of Khan Younis and Rafah, and sections of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun. Meanwhile, five border crossings are supposed to open for humanitarian aid. The agreement also includes the release of hostages and prisoners.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

Palestinian political observers believe the summit aims primarily to strengthen the truce, outline mechanisms for reconstruction, and create a political track that could lead to wider regional stability.

Gaza-based political analyst Hussam al-Dajani said the Sharm el-Sheikh summit "is mainly intended to consolidate the ceasefire and provide guarantees that the war will not recur."

The discussions are also expected to touch on Gaza's reconstruction and regional security cooperation, he said.

Despite the positive atmosphere surrounding the summit, al-Dajani doubted whether it would address the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Any sustainable solution depends on the political will of President Trump and the international community," he said. "Without genuine determination to end the occupation, any settlement will remain temporary."

He noted that the war had left Israel under increasing international isolation, "which might encourage stronger global efforts to change the situation."

PROSPECTS AND LIMITATIONS

Ramallah-based political analyst Jihad Harb expressed skepticism that the summit could lead to a comprehensive peace agreement.

"The summit is primarily linked to consolidating the ceasefire and giving momentum to efforts aimed at reaching a broader arrangement that could include the release of Israeli detainees," he told Xinhua.

"The current circumstances are not conducive to achieving lasting peace in the foreseeable future," Harb said. "The proposed paths diverge between the U.S. plan and international initiatives based on the two-state solution."

He said that the U.S. proposal remains vague, especially concerning the structure and sovereignty of a future Palestinian state.

Echoing Harb's view, al-Dajani said, "The U.S. plan does not specify the legal and political nature of the Palestinian state, clarity on which is essential to prevent future clashes."

The experts agreed that meaningful progress would require a clear U.S. stance and effective international pressure on Israel, whose current government continues to reject the establishment of a Palestinian state.

According to Harb, if the summit succeeds in stabilizing the truce, it could help ease regional tensions involving Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Syria and the Houthis in Yemen.

However, he warned that "failure would likely lead to renewed escalation and possibly wider conflicts in the region."

U.S. ROLE and ARAB REACTIONS

Ramallah-based political analyst Esmat Mansour believes that Washington's involvement in the summit reflects its broader strategic goal of reasserting its influence in the Middle East.

"The United States is trying to reposition itself and reinforce Israel as a key regional partner," Mansour told Xinhua.

"U.S. engagement is primarily aimed at protecting Israel after its international isolation, but this will not succeed unless accompanied by a serious plan to end the occupation," he said.

The U.S. initiative has received cautious support from several Arab countries, particularly Gulf states that view the ceasefire as a step toward regional de-escalation.

Yet, Mansour stressed that sustained Arab engagement depends largely on Washington's credibility in addressing the Palestinian issue.

"The U.S. efforts have been generally welcomed, but they tend to focus on satisfying Israeli concerns rather than ensuring balanced outcomes for all parties," he said. "The lack of a unified Palestinian stance remains a major challenge for the summit's success."

In Gaza, Hamas expressed hope that the summit would reaffirm the ceasefire and prevent any renewed military operations.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Xinhua that Hamas expects "the summit to contribute to stabilizing the situation and facilitating relief and reconstruction efforts following the massive destruction caused by the war."

For many Palestinians, the success of the summit depends on whether international actors will move from verbal commitments to tangible actions that improve living conditions and support reconstruction in Gaza.

Cautiously optimistic about the outcome, Palestinians hope this summit will mark the start of a genuine political process that ends the cycle of war and opens a path to peace for Gaza and the entire region, said Mohammed Awad, a Gaza citizen. ■