Following a contentious speech at the UN General Assembly where he opposed the growing global movement for the recognition of a Palestinian state, US President Donald Trump met with Muslim leaders, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to present his plan to end the war in Gaza.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 80th UNGA at the United Nations Headquarters, brought together leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, and Indonesia. In a televised interaction with the leaders before the meeting, Trump said, “We have to get the hostages back… This is the group that can do it, more than any other group in the world… so it’s an honour to be with you.” He added, “We had 32 meetings here, this is the one that’s very important because we’re gonna end something that should’ve probably never started.”
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani thanked the president for hosting the important meeting at such a critical time, stating that their goal was to stop the war and bring the prisoners back. He added, “We count on your leadership as well to end this war and to help the people of Gaza.”
Earlier in his UNGA speech, Trump had argued that greater recognition for Palestine would be a reward for “horrible atrocities” committed by Hamas. He called on world powers to prioritize securing the release of prisoners held in Gaza. Trump outlined that the US is seeking a ‘ceasefire-for-prisoners’ deal that would lead to the return of all remaining prisoners, both alive and deceased. He concluded his speech by stating, “We have to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to immediately negotiate peace.”
In a reaction to Trump’s address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the US leader’s “commitment to establishing peace in the world,” describing him as “indeed a man of peace.” He also thanked Trump for his team’s “crucial role in preventing a potentially devastating war between India and Pakistan.” These remarks were made ahead of the multilateral meeting, where PM Shehbaz was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. When asked by reporters about the upcoming meeting, the Prime Minister declined to comment, saying he would speak about it only after it was over.
According to the White House, Trump’s plan for peace includes a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the deployment of regional peacekeeping troops, and an internationally supported transition and reconstruction process for the devastated enclave. Quoting diplomatic sources, Israel’s Channel 12 and the US-based news outlet Axios reported that while Israel had not drafted the plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of its general outlines. The plan also envisions a role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) but not for Hamas, which both Washington and Tel Aviv insist must be dismantled. Axios further reported that Washington wants Arab and Muslim countries to agree to send military forces to Gaza to facilitate Israel’s withdrawal and secure funding for the rebuilding efforts.
