President Donald Trump hosted a dinner in New York with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. This dinner occurred against the backdrop of a recent attempt by Israel to target Hamas leaders in Doha. The attack on Tuesday invited widespread criticism not only from the Middle East but globally. It's believed this incident could potentially derail America's mediation efforts in the Gaza conflict.
According to sources cited by Reuters, prior to the dinner, Al-Thani held an hour-long meeting at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions centered around Qatar’s mediator role and defense cooperation. For a long time, the U.S. and Qatar have been engaged in dialogue over a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and post-war reconstruction plans.
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Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's actions, labeling it an "unilateral attack" that neither aligns with U.S. interests nor those of Israel. He conveyed his discontent in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reassured Qataris that such incidents would not recur.
Qatar Leader Declares Dinner as 'Magnificent,' U.S. Remains Mute
Qatar's Deputy Mission Chief Hamah Al-Muftah posted on the social media platform X, "A magnificent dinner with President Trump just concluded." While the White House acknowledged the meeting, it refrained from sharing details of the conversation.
Accusations of Undermining Peace Efforts
Following the Tuesday attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, Al-Thani accused Israel of sabotaging peace efforts. He reaffirmed that Qatar would not retreat from its mediating role and would persist in seeking lasting peace in the region.
Read also: Netanyahu compares Doha strikes to U.S. actions on 9/11
Since October 2023, ongoing strikes by Israel on Gaza have resulted in more than 64,000 deaths. Almost the entire population has been displaced, with millions facing famine. Numerous international experts and human rights activists consider these attacks genocidal. Against this backdrop, the U.S.-Qatar partnership is deemed crucial.
