WASHINGTON — In a striking display of transatlantic and regional diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday lavished praise on Türkiye's instrumental contributions to brokering a fragile but promising ceasefire in Gaza, singling out President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a "fantastic" partner whose influence tipped the scales toward peace. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the Middle East, Trump underscored Erdogan's stature as a respected leader of a "very powerful nation" backed by a formidable military, crediting Ankara's behind-the-scenes efforts with accelerating the deal that has halted two years of relentless bloodshed.
"Turkey was fantastic too. President Erdogan was fantastic. He really helped a lot, because he's very respected. He's got a very powerful nation. He's got a very, very powerful military. And he helped a lot," Trump remarked, his words carrying the weight of a hard-won breakthrough after months of grueling negotiations. The president's comments, delivered just hours before his arrival in Israel, highlighted a rare moment of bipartisan acclaim for international collaboration, even as skeptics warn that the ceasefire's longevity hinges on thorny issues like Hamas's disarmament and Gaza's post-war governance.
Trump's endorsement extended beyond Türkiye, as he spotlighted Qatar's central mediation role, dubbing Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani an "amazing man" whose nation's geographic and diplomatic centrality—sandwiched amid the conflict's epicenter—outshone even powerhouses like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. "His country is right in the middle of everything, more so than any other country, more so than the UAE, where you have to fly an hour and a half to get there, more so than Saudi Arabia, where you have to fly an hour and a half to get there," Trump elaborated, urging that "Qatar should start getting some credit." He also nodded to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Jordan as key players whose quiet diplomacy helped forge the agreement, a nod to the Arab world's collective push for de-escalation.
These remarks came amid Trump's high-stakes itinerary: a brief stopover in Israel to console families of the remaining captives and deliver a landmark address to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, before jetting to Egypt's sun-drenched Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. There, on Monday, he will co-chair the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi—a gathering billed by Cairo as a transformative forum "to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East and usher in a new phase of regional security and stability." The summit, attended by over 20 heads of state including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and notably Erdogan himself, promises a signing ceremony for the broader Middle East peace framework. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to participate, though neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Hamas representatives will be present, underscoring the summit's focus on multilateral implementation rather than direct belligerent talks.
Erdogan's attendance, confirmed Sunday by Türkiye’s Communications Director Burhanettin Duran via social media, marks a capstone to Ankara's aggressive shuttle diplomacy. Invited jointly by Sisi and Trump, the Turkish leader will deliver a keynote address and engage in bilateral meetings, leveraging his unique position as a NATO ally with deep ties to both Hamas and regional stakeholders. "Türkiye will continue to contribute to the process with a view to establishing a just and lasting peace acceptable to all parties," Erdogan stated earlier this month, echoing a joint communique from foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt that hailed Trump's "sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza."
The ceasefire, which took effect last Friday after Israel's cabinet greenlit the first phase of Trump's ambitious 20-point plan on Thursday, represents a seismic shift in a conflict that has claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives—mostly civilians—and displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza. Triggered by Hamas's barbaric October 7, 2023, assault on Israel that killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages, the war's brutality drew global condemnation and tested the limits of international mediation. Now, with hostilities paused, tens of thousands of Palestinians are trudging northward through rubble-strewn roads, returning to shattered homes in Gaza City and Khan Younis, their faces etched with a mix of exhaustion and tentative hope. "We hope from God that a ceasefire would take place as soon as possible, because people can't bear the suffering anymore," one displaced resident, Jehad al-Shagnobi, told reporters from the Sabra district, where his home lies in ruins.
Under phase one, Hamas is slated to release 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of 28 others by Monday or Tuesday, in exchange for Israel's liberation of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences for terrorism-related convictions. High-profile figures like Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader serving five life terms, and Ahmad Saadat of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine are reportedly on the list, a concession Hamas pushed for vigorously. Israeli forces have withdrawn to a designated buffer line within Gaza, vacating about half the territory, though analysts note that troops still control key southern areas. In tandem, humanitarian corridors have reopened: Trucks laden with food, medicine, and reconstruction materials crossed into Gaza via the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings over the weekend, the first unrestricted flow since March, when a prior truce collapsed. UN agencies, the Red Crescent, and neutral international bodies will oversee distribution, prioritizing infrastructure rehab for water, electricity, sewage systems, hospitals, and bakeries, with equipment to clear rubble and reopen roads.
Trump's blueprint, pieced together by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and input from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, envisions a phased transition: immediate aid surges, followed by multinational oversight of Gaza's governance by Palestinian technocrats under an international body led by Trump and Blair. This interim council would fund reconstruction until the Palestinian Authority completes reforms aligned with Trump's 2020 peace plan and a Saudi-French proposal, potentially paving the way for a two-state solution. Notably absent from the deal's fine print is any explicit mandate for Hamas to disarm—a red line for Netanyahu—or clarity on the group's future role, issues deferred to subsequent phases amid fears of renewed escalation.
Global reactions have poured in, blending jubilation with caution. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the "desperately needed breakthrough," commending the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye's mediation. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun praised the "realistic approach" to civilian suffering, while Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed Trump's crisis-resolution tactics, linking Gaza to Ukraine. In Israel, the Hostages Families Forum expressed "excitement, anticipation and apprehension," urging swift government action. Netanyahu, lighting memorial candles at Jerusalem's National Library on Sunday, appealed for national unity while cautioning that the "military campaign is not over," hinting at vigilance against Hezbollah or Iranian proxies. Palestinian voices, including poet Mosab Abu Toha, voiced wariness over the "first phase" language, recalling January's short-lived truce.
On the home front, Trump's envoy Witkoff reiterated gratitude to Erdogan, Sisi, and Sheikh Tamim during a Tel Aviv speech, where cheers erupted at mentions of the U.S. president's leadership—though boos greeted Netanyahu's name, revealing domestic fissures. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, on ABC's "This Week," proclaimed, "We’re on the cusp of true peace in the Middle East, really, for the first time in my lifetime," a sentiment echoed by Republican lawmakers like Rep. Brian Mast, who credited Trump with achieving what "career diplomats never could." Yet, Palestinian Americans and aid groups remain skeptical, decrying ambiguities in reconstruction funding and long-term security guarantees.
As Sharm el-Sheikh buzzes with preparations—Egypt deploying Russian Buk air defenses for security, flags of 30 nations fluttering near the airport—the summit looms as a potential inflection point. European Council President António Costa, representing the EU, emphasized hope for "a just and sustainable peace" grounded in a two-state solution, vowing not to forget October 7's horrors. Britain's Starmer plans to pay "particular tribute" to Trump, though opposition figures like Priti Patel dismissed the event as a "photo opportunity" with minimal UK input. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also attending, will advocate for civilian protections.
For Gaza's weary residents, the summit's outcomes could mean the difference between fragile recovery and renewed devastation. With aid trucks rumbling in and families reuniting amid the ruins, Trump's vision—bolstered by allies like Erdogan—offers a glimmer of stability. But as Witkoff noted in Gaza's border bases, true peace demands "empathy and vision," not just signatures on paper. As delegates converge under the Sinai sun, the world watches: Will Sharm el-Sheikh birth enduring harmony, or merely another interlude in the region's tortured saga?
