U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday held a high-profile meeting with leaders of several Arab and Islamic nations to discuss ways of ending the devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
The official Emirati news agency, WAM, reported on Wednesday that the meeting, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, brought together Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; King Abdullah II of Jordan; and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Also in attendance were Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, as well as the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to WAM, discussions centered on achieving a “sustainable and lasting” ceasefire, securing the release of hostages, and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The talks came amid a wave of Western recognition of Palestinian statehood — a move strongly criticized by Israel and its closest ally, the United States.
Describing the discussions, Trump said it was a “very good, successful meeting.” Israel, however, was not represented.
The U.S. president is scheduled to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday.
Efforts by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas have stalled for months. Several proposals remain on the table concerning the post-war administration and security of the coastal enclave, which has been ravaged by nearly two years of conflict.
Trump had earlier floated a controversial idea of resettling Gazans elsewhere and transforming the strip into a Middle East “Riviera,” a plan that drew widespread condemnation.
