NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump sought to reposition himself as a peacemaker on Tuesday, unveiling a plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza in a high-profile meeting with Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. The initiative followed a combative address to the Assembly earlier in the day, in which Trump denounced the growing global momentum toward recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it a reward for “atrocities” by Hamas.
The closed-door consultations at UN headquarters brought together leaders and representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, and Indonesia.
Opening the session, Trump appealed directly to his counterparts. “We have to get the hostages back. This is the group that can do it, more than any other group in the world… It’s an honour to be with you,” he said in a televised introduction. He added that of the many meetings he held in New York, “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 welcomed the initiative, thanking Trump for convening the leaders at a “critical moment.” He stressed the urgency of halting the violence and freeing prisoners, adding: “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 outlined the contours of his approach, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza linked to the release of all hostages, both alive and deceased. He framed the proposal as a “ceasefire-for-prisoners” deal, arguing that halting the war must take precedence over recognition debates.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, responding to Trump’s remarks, praised the US president’s commitment to peace. He recalled Washington’s past role in diffusing tensions between India and Pakistan, saying: “He is indeed a man of peace… For that we thank him from the depths of our hearts.”
While the multilateral meeting was held behind closed doors, images released by the Prime Minister’s Office showed Shehbaz in separate discussions with Sheikh Tamim, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Neither the White House nor Pakistan’s mission in Washington released a formal statement by press time.
According to White House officials, Trump’s proposal includes a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the deployment of peacekeeping troops from regional states, and a comprehensive reconstruction programme under international supervision. Diplomatic sources cited by Israel’s Channel 12 and Axios reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been briefed on the framework, though Israel did not draft the plan itself.
The plan assigns a governance role to the Palestinian Authority but excludes Hamas, which Washington and Tel Aviv insist must be dismantled. It also calls for Arab and Muslim nations to contribute troops for security and to finance Gaza’s recovery.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the initiative as “one last shot” at ending the Gaza conflict. Speaking to American media, he emphasized that a lasting settlement must ensure Palestinians govern their own territory but without the capacity to launch future attacks against Israel. He described the peace plan as a rare convergence of humanitarian urgency, political opportunity, and regional responsibility.
The initiative marks Trump’s most ambitious foray yet into Middle East diplomacy during his current term, placing the responsibility for peace not only on Israel and the Palestinians but also on Muslim-majority states willing to shoulder the costs of stabilization and reconstruction.
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