The announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza at dawn on Thursday, 9 October, 2025, in Sharm El-Sheikh was hardly a surprise. It was yet another confirmation of Egypt's enduring imprint on the very architecture of Arab diplomacy. Since the dawn of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Cairo – despite political transitions and leadership shifts – has remained the region's foremost broker and the voice of balance when others fall silent. With every new round of bloodshed and destruction, Egypt proves once again that quiet diplomacy can be mightier than the roar of guns, and that its deep political instinct makes it the natural mediator trusted by adversaries and allies alike. Egypt did not build this reputation overnight. It crafted it through decades of treaties, negotiations, and delicate mediation – from Camp David to Oslo, to every truce that has halted fire over Gaza in recent years. It is a nation that needs no proof of its influence, for it has long practiced what it was born to do: create peace and engineer equilibrium. The Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement: A Ceasefire Written in Egyptian Hands, Witnessed by Qatari At dawn on Thursday, Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement in Sharm El-Sheikh – mediated by Egypt and witnessed by Qatar – following weeks of tense and complex talks on Egyptian soil. According to international outlets including Reuters, Al Jazeera, and the Associated Press, the agreement includes a prisoner exchange between the two sides, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza, and the broad facilitation of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave. The deal also provides for the reopening of crossings and the daily flow of relief convoys under a mutual commitment to a comprehensive cessation of hostilities during the initial phase, followed by later stages to address political and security issues. Cairo's mediation centered on a principle it has long championed: "Truce for Security" — an understanding that peace is not merely a pause in violence, but a first step towards rebuilding trust. This truce marks the fifth attempt since the war began on October 7, 2023, but the first to be formally signed in a joint international setting. Previous efforts in November 2023 and in February, May, and June 2025 collapsed before implementation – victims of missing guarantees and unsafe negotiation environments. This time, Egypt provided both political and security assurances, making the Sharm El-Sheikh accord the most credible and durable attempt yet. The Safe Ground That Protects Negotiators What truly distinguishes Egypt's role is not only its diplomacy but also its safety. While other nations witnessed targeted attacks and assassinations of negotiators – such as the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in 2024, or the Israeli strike on a building in Qatar that housed Hamas representatives in 2025 – Cairo offered a rare sanctuary for dialogue. No negotiator on Egyptian soil has ever been harmed, detained, or threatened – despite the sensitive nature of the Palestinian–Israeli file. Egypt conducts its mediation as a state, not as an apparatus – protecting those who enter its territory, whether ally or adversary. In doing so, it affirms a timeless truth: diplomacy cannot flourish under the shadow of guns; it requires the shelter of trust. This sense of security has made Egypt the only arena both sides can truly accept – after others lost credibility when their borders became traps rather than channels of peace. Thus, the Sharm El-Sheikh negotiations unfolded in an atmosphere of discipline and confidence – untouched by the chaos surrounding them. Egypt's Lesson in Quiet Diplomacy Egypt's success stems not from pressure or posturing, but from patience, timing, and restraint. While others sought the spotlight through public diplomacy and loud announcements, Cairo chose the harder path – to work in silence and deliver results before speaking of them. It practices a policy of results first, statements later – and that discipline continues to earn it global respect. Egypt does not chase cameras or compete for headlines. It intervenes to extinguish fires, not to fuel them – and the more the region burns, the calmer Cairo becomes – its composure a form of quiet strength rather than passive neutrality. That serenity is its greatest advantage – the ability to contain all sides without surrendering independence or dignity. Diplomacy as Identity, Not Performance Egypt has never joined the race for relevance – it simply never left it. From the Treaty of Kadesh in pharaonic times to Camp David, from the 2014 Gaza–Israel ceasefire to Sharm El-Sheikh 2025, Egypt's name has always been etched beside the word "peace." It prefers working in the background rather than seeking the front page, because in diplomacy, outcomes outlive applause. Its latest achievement is not merely a political victory, but a restoration of Arab centrality, reminding the world that Egypt's voice still carries the moral weight of history. Here, diplomacy is not luxury; it is heritage, responsibility, and power measured not by armies, but by trust. The Prophetic Legacy That Still Lives Many recall today the words of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم: "You will conquer a land where the currency of the qirat is used; so treat its people well, for they have protection and kinship." — Sahih Muslim This ancient hadith, which honoured Egypt and its people, lives on through its actions rather than slogans. Egypt extends its hand in times of division and opens its doors for dialogue even to those with whom it disagrees. It proves that mercy can be a political force, that compassion and statecraft can coexist, and together they can rewrite the history of conflict. Each time Egypt halts a war, opens a crossing, or restores hope to a weary population, it reaffirms that this divine counsel to "treat its people well" is not a verse in history but a living practice of peace. Egypt: Thinking in Silence, Ending in Action When the guns fall silent and white flags rise, the world knows a familiar hand has been at work — one that acts without boasting and achieves without noise. Egypt has never needed to shout to prove its worth; its actions are its loudest voice. It is the nation born of history, guiding the present with conscience and clarity. The Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire is not merely a pause in fighting; it is a renewed testament that Egypt remains capable of forging balance amid chaos and peace amid storms. It is, once again, Egypt: when it thinks, it brings calm; when it speaks, it ends conflict; and when it intervenes, it writes the ending everyone was waiting for.
