President Donald Trump referenced weak world leaders present during Monday’s global summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, concerning the future of the war-torn Gaza Strip, indirectly criticizing their unproductive involvement in resolving Israel’s conflict against Hamas.
When questioned about which world leaders he considered weak at the Egypt meeting, Trump stated, “I won’t comment on that. But you know probably who they are… There were a couple in the room.”
While Western leaders and the U.N. Secretary-General appeared to seek recognition for Trump’s Middle East success in ending the Hamas-Israel war, veteran Mideast analysts observed that Trump primarily thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with Qatar and Egypt, while excluding traditional Western allies.
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On Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee strongly criticized Britain’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, who claimed, “We’ve played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this” regarding Trump’s peace agreement. Huckabee responded: “I assure you she’s delusional. She can thank @realDonaldTrump anytime just to set the record straight.”
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has been criticized by Trump for his intention to recognize a Palestinian state. Trump previously commented on Macron’s role in recognizing a Palestinian state: “What he says doesn’t matter.”
Observers also noted an uncomfortable 26-second handshake between the two at the summit in Egypt on Tuesday.
Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Australia, Canada, Britain, and France for recognizing a Palestinian state, arguing it “harder” to end the war. Rubio added that recognizing a Palestinian state “emboldens” Hamas, stating he had conveyed the U.S. stance to its Western allies.
Ret. British Col. Richard Kemp, who was in Gaza during the conflict, posted on X: “Tonight Trump name-checked countries that played a significant role in peace agreement. UK not included. Nor was France, Canada or Australia, the ‘recognisers.”
Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former National Security Council official, told Fox News Digital that, “We know for a fact that Hamas would pull back over and over again whenever there was a prospect of a U.N. Security Council action to pressure Israel, when Britain or Canada would announce an arms embargo on Israel, when French President Emmanuel Macron would organize a push for Palestinian state recognition.
This is happening right now in spite of all them because of one man who said to their faces in front of the world, I don’t give a damn what you say or do, I will help Israel open the gates of hell unless the hostages come home now.”
He added, “It’s also a lesson for what comes next: Trump holds the cards for success or failure in demilitarizing Gaza and deradicalizing the Palestinians. If Trump lets the Europeans or the U.N. run the show, his plan is doomed; if he keeps his sword of Damocles hanging over the process, he may yet succeed.”
Special envoy Steve Witkoff later acknowledged the U.K.’s national security advisor in a statement on X: “I would like to acknowledge the vital role of the United Kingdom in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel. In particular, I want to recognize the incredible input and tireless efforts of National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, cautioned, “Israel is finally seeing the hostages come home, and perhaps the guns fall silent. But let the world remember: this could have ended long ago if many around the world — from U.N. officials to so-called human rights groups like Amnesty International — had not spent two years justifying Hamas instead of confronting it.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who also traveled to Egypt for the signing, has faced considerable criticism in the German media for allegedly trying to capitalize on Trump’s success after he imposed a weapons embargo on Israel. Israeli tanks rely on German technological components, and Merz halted deliveries.
Writing on the website of the conservative news outlet NIUS, its editor-in-chief, Julian Reichelt, stated Merz “supplied Hamas with air support while simultaneously denying Israel the weapons it needed to fight Hamas. He withdrew support to the Jews but increased financial support for the proven Hamas front organization UNRWA, which was directly involved in the Oct. 7 attack.” The airpower reference alluded to Merz’s decision to send humanitarian aid to Gaza via airlift deliveries. Hamas has repeatedly stolen aid intended for the Palestinian population.
