US President Donald Trump had dinner with the Qatari Prime Minister in New York on Friday, shortly after Israel, a US ally, attacked Hamas leaders in Doha.
On Tuesday, Israel targeted Hamas political leaders in Qatar, an action threatening US-led peace efforts in Gaza, which has been in conflict for nearly two years. The attack faced widespread condemnation across the Middle East and beyond, as it risked escalating regional tensions.
Trump voiced his displeasure over the strike during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reassuring Qatar that such incidents would not recur.
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Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani were joined by top Trump adviser and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“Great dinner with POTUS. Just ended,” Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, Hamah Al-Muftah, shared on X.
The White House confirmed the dinner but did not provide specifics.
The dinner followed a one-hour meeting at the White House between al-Thani, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to a source familiar with the meeting, discussions focused on Qatar’s role as a mediator and defense cooperation following the Israeli strikes against Hamas in Doha.
Trump criticized the Israeli strike, labeling it a unilateral move that did not serve US or Israeli interests.
Following al-Thani’s meeting with Vance and Rubio, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated that the Qatari PM pledged to take “all necessary measures to safeguard its security and maintain sovereignty against blatant Israeli aggression.”
He also acknowledged Qatar’s strong partnership with the US and appreciated Washington’s support for Qatar’s sovereignty and regional peace efforts.
Vance reiterated his support for Qatar, emphasizing the potential of diplomatic solutions to address regional issues. He also praised Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts and its active role in fostering regional peace.
Strong Gulf ally
Washington considers Qatar a key Gulf ally. Qatar has mediated long-standing negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, and a post-conflict plan for the region.
On Tuesday, al-Thani accused Israel of undermining peace prospects but affirmed Qatar’s commitment to its mediating role.
Since October 2023, Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in over 64,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health officials, displacing nearly the entire Gaza population and triggering a starvation crisis. Multiple rights experts and scholars claim Israel’s actions amount to genocide.
Israel disputes these claims. It launched its Gaza offensive following a Hamas-led militant attack that killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages, as per Israeli reports. Israel has also bombed Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen during the Gaza conflict.
