Shehbaz hails Gaza ceasefire deal as ‘historic opportunity’ for lasting Middle East peace

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Thursday that the announcement of a “deal” that will end the genocide in Gaza is a historic opportunity to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East.

In a post on

Shehbaz praised the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye for their sustained diplomatic efforts to achieve a breakthrough.

He said the world must pay tribute to the Palestinian people, who have endured “unprecedented suffering” and ensure that such tragedies are never repeated. He also expressed concern over further provocations at Masjid Al Aqsa, urging world powers to hold “illegal occupiers and settlers” accountable and protect ongoing peace efforts.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to work with regional partners to promote peace, security and dignity of the Palestinian people, in line with their aspirations and UN resolutions.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also welcomed the progress and said Pakistan “congratulates President Trump and Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye for their efforts” to secure an initial ceasefire, the exchange of hostages and prisoners and humanitarian access to Gaza.

He expressed hope that the agreement would pave the way for a permanent ceasefire and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Trump receives memo on Gaza deal during White House event

Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump was seen receiving a handwritten note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a White House roundtable discussion on the Antifa movement.

As captured by pool cameras, Rubio handed the note to Trump as Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke.

Moments later, Trump read the note and told reporters: “The Secretary of State just gave me a note saying that we are very close to a deal in the Middle East and that they will need me very quickly. So I would answer a couple more questions.”

According ReutersThe note, written on White House letterhead, said: “You must approve a Truth Social publication soon so we can announce the deal first.” The White House has not yet commented on the exchange.

The remarks came as Trump said he could travel to the Middle East later this week, and negotiators in Egypt reported “encouraging progress” toward a comprehensive deal to end the Gaza conflict. The talks, being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, focus on Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which proposes a gradual ceasefire, the release of hostages and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

According to mediators, Hamas has presented lists of Palestinian hostages and prisoners for an exchange, while Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye have intensified coordination to remove the last obstacles to the truce.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi described the discussions as “encouraging,” and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the negotiations had made “a lot of progress.”

Celebrations in Gaza

Palestinians in Khan Younis took to the streets in jubilation after Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Videos obtained by Reuters showed crowds dancing, clapping and waving flags near Nasser Hospital as songs blared from speakers and ambulances drove past cheering crowds.

The agreement, negotiated under US President Donald Trump’s peace framework, includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an exchange of hostages and prisoners.

However, Hamas urged Trump and the guarantor states to ensure that Israel fully complies with the terms of the truce, which marks the most significant step yet to end the two-year war that has devastated the Palestinian enclave.