Why Macron and Sanchez’s anti-Israel stance disqualifies them from Gaza Summit

On Monday, a high-profile summit for peace in Gaza will convene in Sharm el-Sheikh, co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The gathering, attended by leaders from over 20 countries and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, aims to cement a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, end the war in Gaza, and foster regional stability. 

However, the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has sparked controversy, given their track records of hostility toward Israel, raising questions about their motives and legitimacy at this pivotal summit.

The summit, described by Downing Street as a “historic turning point” after two years of conflict, includes prominent figures like Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Council President Antonio Costa. 

Yet, the attendance of Macron and Sanchez stands out for all the wrong reasons. 

Both leaders have consistently undermined Israel’s position, aligning themselves with narratives and policies that question the Jewish state’s right to self-defense and sovereignty.

Emmanuel Macron’s participation is particularly perplexing. 

The French president has played no role in the peace plan spearheaded by Donald Trump, which has been credited with brokering the current ceasefire. 

Instead, Macron has spent months actively working to undermine the U.S. initiative, reportedly out of a desire to assert France’s influence in the region. 

His presence at the summit appears little more than an opportunistic bid for a photo-op, a chance to bask in the glow of a diplomatic breakthrough he had no hand in achieving. 

Macron’s track record of equivocating on Israel’s security concerns, coupled with his administration’s frequent criticism of Israeli policies, casts doubt on his commitment to the summit’s goals of fostering genuine peace and stability.

Similarly, Pedro Sanchez’s invitation to the summit is baffling. 

Under his leadership, Spain has emerged as one of Israel’s fiercest critics in Europe. Sanchez’s socialist government has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, often ignoring the complexities of the conflict and the role of Hamas’s aggression. 

Madrid’s increasingly anti-Israel stance, including its recognition of a Palestinian state without meaningful negotiations, has positioned Spain as a de facto adversary of Jerusalem. 

Sanchez’s presence at a summit meant to herald a new era of regional stability feels like a contradiction, if not an outright provocation. 

What constructive role can a leader who has consistently vilified Israel play in a process aimed at securing peace for all parties involved?

The inclusion of Macron and Sanchez risks undermining the summit’s credibility. 

Their track records suggest they are more interested in advancing their own political agendas than supporting a balanced approach to peace. 

While the summit’s goals—ending the war, ensuring stability, and opening a new chapter for the Middle East—are laudable, inviting leaders who have shown clear bias against one of the key stakeholders, Israel, sends a troubling signal. 

It raises the question of whether their attendance is a diplomatic oversight or a calculated move to appease certain factions, regardless of the cost to the summit’s integrity.

As the world watches this historic gathering, the focus should remain on leaders and nations committed to genuine dialogue and reconciliation. 

Macron and Sanchez, with their well-documented hostility toward Israel, do not belong at this table.

Their presence risks turning a moment of hope into a stage for posturing, threatening the very stability the summit seeks to achieve.