US President Donald Trump hosted Qatari Prime Minister
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani for dinner in New York on Friday, days
after Israel launched a controversial strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha.
The meeting aimed to address regional tensions, with Trump expressing
displeasure over the attack and Qatar reaffirming its mediation role amid
fragile Gaza ceasefire efforts.
Trump and Qatari Prime Minister meet after deadly Israeli strike
As reported by Jarrett Renshaw of Reuters, US President Donald Trump held a dinner with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York on Friday, following an Israeli attack in Doha
earlier that week that killed Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer.
The Israeli operation targeted Hamas leaders in a move that threatened ongoing
US-backed peace efforts to halt the near two-year conflict in Gaza. The strike
drew widespread condemnation throughout the Middle East and beyond, raising
fears of escalating violence.
At the dinner, Trump was joined by his Middle East special
envoy, Steve Witkoff. Qatar's deputy chief of mission, Hamad Al-Muftah, took to
the social media platform X to describe the meeting as a “great dinner with
POTUS. Just ended”.
Displeasure over Israeli strike and assurance to Qatar
According to coverage by The Hill’s correspondent, President Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Israeli attack during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labelling the unilateral strike as detrimental to both US and Israeli interests. Trump reassured Qatari officials that such incidents would not recur in the future. Trump said,
“I’m not thrilled about the whole situation... but we want the hostages back,”
referring to efforts to end the hostage crisis related to the Gaza conflict.
Qatar’s Prime Minister al-Thani accused Israel of attempting to undermine peace efforts but confirmed Qatar’s intention to continue playing a crucial mediator role. Al-Thani notably stated that Qatar
“will take all measures to protect its security and safeguard its sovereignty in the face of the blatant Israeli attack”
and pledged to respond as necessary. Furthermore,
he remarked that the Israeli strikes “killed any hope” of securing the release
of hostages from Gaza.
High-level US-Qatari discussions on mediation and defense cooperation
Earlier on Friday, Sheikh Mohammed met US Vice President JD
Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House. These discussions
focused on Qatar’s future as a mediator in the region, its defense cooperation
with the US, and the repercussions of the Israeli strikes on regional
stability. Both Vance and Rubio praised Qatar's “tireless mediation efforts”
and described Doha as a “reliable strategic ally” of the United States, as
reported by various sources including Times of Israel and SadaNews.
The Qatari foreign ministry, in an official statement,
highlighted close strategic relations with the US and underlined the intention
to support and develop these ties despite the Israeli aggression.
Broader regional context and humanitarian impact
Since the intensification of the Gaza conflict in October
2023, over 64,000 Palestinians have reportedly died, with the population
suffering severe displacement and humanitarian crises including widespread
starvation, according to Palestinian health officials and human rights experts
cited by Reuters.
Israel defends its military campaign as a necessary response
to attacks by Hamas, which it designates a foreign terrorist organisation.
Israeli sources state that over 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 abducted
since Hamas' initial assault. The conflict also extended to strikes on Lebanon,
Syria, Iran, and Yemen.
Significance of Qatar's role and future outlook
Qatar hosts the US Al Udeid Air Base and functions as a
pivotal regional mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
The Israeli attack in Doha raised concerns about destabilising these fragile
peace efforts. Both the US and Qatar appear committed to diplomatic dialogue
despite tensions.
As noted by Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, the recent
Israeli strike complicated the relationship between the US and Qatar, prompting
urgent dialogue and reassurances. The situation remains delicate, with all
parties engaged in efforts to avoid further escalation while seeking
resolutions to the ongoing conflict.
President Donald Trump’s hosting of Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York came at a critical moment following an Israeli strike that challenged regional diplomacy. Trump communicated frustration with the strike to Israeli leadership and reassured Qatar of US support. Qatar, for its part, vowed to defend its sovereignty and continue its mediation role despite heightened tensions. High-level US-Qatar talks underscored the partnership's strategic importance amid efforts to stabilise a volatile region torn by a protracted conflict.