Cairo: AfricUpdate – News Desk
By Ashraf Gaber
Celebrating Egypt at this historic juncture is far from an exaggeration: it is a recognition that is well-deserved. While various pro-Zionist groups, chief among them the Muslim Brotherhood, and several Arab regimes have either orchestrated or tacitly condoned malicious campaigns to undermine Egypt, the Egyptian leadership, with determination and integrity, was quietly working to achieve a result almost everyone thought impossible.
What the world witnessed in Sharm El-Sheikh as the ceasefire agreement for Gaza was signed, jointly overseen by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, was not a routine peace accord. It was the culmination of unrelenting Egyptian diplomacy and a clear demonstration of one essential fact: when Egypt sets considered, mature parameters and lays down its red lines, the world listens and responds with respect.
Confronting Coordinated Smear Campaigns
Egypt has long endured concerted smear campaigns by groups and states hostile to its interests, often serving broader Zionist ambitions. These campaigns, characterized by disconnected rhetoric and relentless finger-pointing, have sought to scapegoat Egypt for every setback. The recent period, however, has peeled back the veil, exposing an unholy alliance between Islamist factions, certain states, and the Zionist project.
The most brazen example: when the Islamic Movement inside Palestine staged a dubious protest outside Egypt’s embassy in Tel Aviv, raising occupation flags rather than the Palestinian standard. The event starkly illustrated just how some have become mere instruments in the Zionist agenda, directly serving the forced displacement of Gaza’s residents. It even reached the point where one country paid bribes to Netanyahu’s advisors to speak negatively about Egypt’s efforts and promote the efforts of that sister country. This blatant conspiracy confirms an organized plan to marginalize Egypt’s role and weaken its standing in the region.
Principle and Integrity – The Egyptian Response
Yet in the face of these slanderous efforts, Egypt’s response was principled and exemplary. From the earliest days of the crisis, Egypt led the mediation, facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, amounting to nearly seventy percent of all international assistance sent to Gaza. Following the successful conclusion of the Sharm El-Sheikh Conference and the cessation of hostilities, Egypt immediately pledged to host a recovery and reconstruction conference, aiming for rapid and substantive action, in collaboration with all partners.
Crucially, Cairo called on Europe to push all sides to honor the new ceasefire. Egypt, almost alone, stood unyielding in the face of the “displacement project” and the Gaza Riviera plan, which was initially pursued aggressively by Trump’s administration. Egypt declared unequivocally: displacement was a red line, non-negotiable. President El-Sisi reiterated time and again: “No displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt. Displacement is a red line that we have not and will not accept or allow. Egypt will never be a gateway to the dispossession of the Palestinian people.” This was no mere rhetoric; it was a deeply held conviction, shared by both the Egyptian government and people, resulting in a remarkable unity of purpose not witnessed in years.
The Egyptian Vision Prevails
Ultimately, proceedings followed Egyptian terms and expectations, not entirely fulfilling every dream, but achieving far more than what had seemed possible amid entrenched regional and international complexities. More than thirty heads of state and international organizations took part in the summit, a clear endorsement of Egypt’s leadership and President El-Sisi’s strategic patience. International participants openly lauded Egypt’s initiative and its pivotal role as a humanitarian and diplomatic leader from the start of the crisis to the signing of the Sharm El-Sheikh accord.
“Trump Syndrome” Stumbles in Sharm El-Sheikh
Egypt’s diplomatic achievements and principled stances have drawn continuous praise from global leaders, particularly in Europe, who have publicly expressed their full trust in Egypt’s direction and its ability to lead. Most notably, US President Donald Trump, rarely one to praise other leaders, offered direct validation: “El-Sisi is a strong leader and a strong general. I am here with my friend; he is both a commander and a president, and he excels in both.” Trump went further, highlighting Egypt’s internal security: “They have a low crime rate here… In Egypt, they don’t mess around when it comes to crime, not like in America. The crime rate here is extremely low, it’s truly remarkable.”
Such recognition from the leader of the world’s most powerful nation reflects not only respect for Egypt’s approach to security and governance but signals to the international community that Egypt is a regional model for stability. Trump also underscored Egypt’s indispensable role in mediation: “General El-Sisi played a critical part. His leadership was pivotal, they (all parties) respect Egypt’s authority. The United States stands with the Egyptian President, always and to the end.”
Redefining the Rules of Engagement
Sharm El-Sheikh was not merely a diplomatic milestone, but a transformative moment in the region’s history, a moment where Egypt rewrote the rules of engagement. By resolutely holding to its principles, Egypt demonstrated that steadfastness in the face of pressure not only yields justice but serves long-term national interests. Everything unfolded according to the Egyptian vision, witnessed and validated by the world, with international leaders affirming their confidence in Egypt and its leadership.
This diplomatic triumph confirms a singular truth: when Egypt speaks with clarity and resolve, the world not only listens but responds. It is nations whose people unite unwaveringly behind their leadership at historic crossroads that shape destiny and realize victory.
Ashraf Gaber, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
agaber@live.com
