President Donald Trump hosted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani for a dinner meeting in New York on Friday, following a controversial Israeli airstrike in Doha that targeted Hamas leaders and a Qatari security official.
The talks, which also involved Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, focused on restoring trust and managing fallout from the strike, especially as Doha plays a key mediation role in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Trump expressed disapproval of Israel’s unilateral action, labeling it counterproductive to both U.S. and Israeli interests, and assured Qatar that hostile operations on its soil would not recur.
Al-Thani, while condemning the strike, reiterated that Qatar will continue its diplomatic role despite what he described as attempts to sabotage peace efforts. The meeting underscores the delicate balancing act the U.S. is attempting in the Middle East—supporting Israel’s security concerns while preserving relationships with Gulf states crucial for regional stability and peace negotiations.
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