By Sarosh Mustafa
UNITED NATIONS: U.S. President Donald Trump convened leaders from eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday to discuss ways to end the Gaza war. The meeting included representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Trump described the gathering as “the most important” of his presidency, saying it brought together “all of the big players except Israel.”
Trump’s Remarks
Speaking to reporters briefly before the talks, Trump said: “We want to end the war in Gaza. We’re going to end it. Maybe we can end it now.” He added that the meeting was “very important” because it aimed to halt “something that should have probably never started.” Trump is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington next week to continue discussions.
Erdogan’s Reaction
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the meeting, describing it as “very fruitful.” His comments signaled cautious optimism from Ankara, which has been critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and vocal in its support for Palestinian statehood.
UAE Confirmation
The UAE’s state news agency WAM confirmed that the talks focused on securing a permanent ceasefire, releasing captives, and addressing Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. The agency said participants discussed pathways toward a sustainable end to the conflict and long-term regional stability.
Times of Israel Report
According to The Times of Israel, Trump presented a plan that included a temporary ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and the reconstruction of Gaza under non-Hamas governance. The outlet, citing Arab diplomats, also reported that Trump told leaders he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank — a stance the Trump administration has not previously taken publicly. Israeli officials have indicated Netanyahu still intends to raise the annexation issue directly with Trump during their upcoming White House meeting.
