A Historic Yet Controversial Moment: Trump and Global Leaders Convene in Egypt for Gaza Ceasefire Deal—But Key Players Are Missing
In a landmark gathering that could reshape the Middle East, former U.S. President Donald Trump stood alongside over 20 world leaders in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, this week to formalize the first phase of a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The high-profile summit brought together figures like Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Britain’s Keir Starmer, as well as diplomats from Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Turkey. Amid hopeful symbolism—posed before a 'Peace 2025' banner—Trump, Egyptian President el-Sisi, Turkey’s Erdoğan, and Qatar’s Emir Al Thani signed a document Trump claimed would establish 'rules, regulations, and lots of other things' for the region.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Neither Israel nor Hamas—the two primary antagonists in this conflict—were physically present at the table. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, despite a glowing mutual praise exchange with Trump just hours earlier (where Trump dubbed him 'one of the greatest wartime leaders' and Netanyahu reciprocated by calling Trump Israel’s 'greatest friend' in the White House), cited a Jewish holiday for his absence. Meanwhile, Hamas, fresh off releasing the last 20 living Israeli hostages (a move reciprocated by Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners), had no official representation. This glaring omission raises urgent questions: Can a peace deal brokered without direct involvement from the warring parties actually hold?
Trump, ever the showman, framed the agreement as a once-in-millennia breakthrough. 'This took 3,000 years to get to this point,' he declared mid-signature, insisting it would 'hold up.' Yet, the actual terms remain shrouded in secrecy—the White House has yet to release the document publicly. In a speech, Trump painted the deal as divine intervention: 'The prayers of millions have finally been answered.' But skeptics might argue the devil is in the undisclosed details. And this is the part most people miss: The agreement coincides with a fragile humanitarian pause—hostage exchanges and fleeting family reunions in Tel Aviv and Gaza—but offers no clear roadmap for Gaza’s decimated future.
Trump teased a vague 'Phase Two' focused on rebuilding Gaza ('You look at Gaza—it needs a lot of clean-up,' he quipped), but provided no concrete plans. Even more audacious was his sudden pivot to Iran, offering sanctions relief if Tehran engages in peace talks. 'It’ll be the best decision Iran ever made,' he vowed. But is this realistic, or just political theater?
The elephant in the room remains: Can Trump, a polarizing figure with no current official role, genuinely orchestrate lasting peace? With Netanyahu absent and Hamas sidelined, is this agreement a turning point—or merely a photo op? Weigh in below: Do you believe this ceasefire will endure, or is it destined to unravel without buy-in from the key stakeholders?
