On Friday, US President Donald Trump hosted a dinner with the Prime Minister of Qatar in New York, just days following the attack by US ally Israel on Hamas leaders in Doha.
Israel made an attempt to eliminate the political leaders of Hamas through an attack in Qatar on Tuesday, a move that jeopardized US-supported initiatives aimed at establishing a truce in Gaza and concluding the nearly two-year-long conflict.
This attack received widespread condemnation across the Middle East and beyond, being viewed as an action that could heighten tensions in an already volatile region.
Trump conveyed his displeasure regarding the strike during a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he endeavored to reassure the Qataris that such incidents would not recur.
The White House confirmed that the dinner had occurred but did not provide any specifics. This gathering followed an hour-long meeting that al-Thani had at the White House on Friday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A source familiar with the meeting indicated that they deliberated on Qatar’s prospective role as a mediator in the region and on defense collaboration in light of the Israeli strikes against Hamas in Doha.
Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Israel’s strike, characterizing it as a unilateral action that did not serve the interests of either the US or Israel.
Washington regards Qatar as a significant ally in the Gulf. Qatar has played a crucial role as a mediator in the protracted negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and for a post-conflict strategy for the region.
Al-Thani accused Israel on Tuesday of attempting to undermine the prospects for peace but asserted that Qatar would remain steadfast in its role as a mediator.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military action in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 64,000 individuals, as reported by Palestinian health officials. This offensive has nearly displaced the entire population of Gaza and triggered a crisis of starvation.
Numerous human rights experts and academics assert that Israel’s military operations in Gaza constitute genocide.
Israel has dismissed this characterization.
The current and ongoing offensive in Gaza was initiated following an attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of over 250, according to Israeli reports. Additionally, Israel has conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
