• Source:JND
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In an awkward moment at the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, US President Donald Trump seemingly snubbed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's outstretched hand in a visibly uncomfortable snub on live television in front of the Egyptian President. The awkward exchange made live television in seconds the centre of attention at the event.

The summit between Trump and el-Sisi was organised to commemorate the signing of the initial phase of the Gaza peace agreement that formally ended an effective two-year-long Israeli blockade of Gaza. The conflict had killed more than 70,100 people, with the death toll standing at 68,172 Palestinians and 1,983 Israelis. Various global leaders congregated to attend what was referred to as the “victory parade” of diplomacy until Trump’s latest handshake blunder hijacked the headlines.

Preparing for the photo op, cameras captured el-Sisi extending his hand to Trump. Trump, however, seemed distracted and looked away and sat down. The moment left el-Sisi pulling his hand back in an uncomfortable manner, with the room erupting in murmurs and blinding camera flashes.

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Social Media Reacts

In minutes, videos of the snub flooded the social media sites. Users argued the snub either had to be deliberate or just one of Trump’s notoriously botched public moments. “He shakes hands with his boss, Netanyahu, does he not? Is the hand of Sisi dirtier?” one X user sneered sarcastically.

One user was more forgiving, stating, “Honesty, he's old and quite stupid, I do not believe he realised.” Others referred to it as “the diplomatic ghosting of the year,” making the event go viral across platforms.

Trump's Recovery Effort

Moments later, Trump seemed to recall the prior gaffe. Effortlessly making amends, he reached out his hand in the general direction of el-Sisi's for a handshake.  Although the summit’s peace agreement marks the summit of Middle East diplomacy to this day, the "handshake snub" has again proved that with Trump in the room, every movement is global news.

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