Following his plea for an immediate halt to the Gaza war from the UNGA, former President Donald Trump convened a critical meeting with prominent figures from Arab and Muslim nations. This meeting took place amid increasing pressure on the United States to facilitate diplomatic solutions in the volatile Middle East, where the Israel-Hamas conflict has caused widespread instability.
The US is under pressure to work with its Arab partners to find common ground and solutions. After the meeting, Trump chose not to speak directly to reporters, instead offering a wave, leaving many aspects of the discussions unclear. However, his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, offered an encouraging sign to reporters indicating that the talks were positive.
Participants in the meeting included leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The central topics of discussion were a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the secure release of all hostages, and the provision of humanitarian aid. Trump had previously emphasized the meeting’s importance, stating the need to end the prolonged war.
He also emphasized the need for prompt action regarding the hostages and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, described the discussions as highly productive, indicating an upcoming joint declaration without specifying details.
No specific details emerged regarding the discussions about Palestine. However, during his UNGA speech, Trump clearly stated that recognizing Palestine would amount to rewarding Hamas. He pointed out that some people want to unilaterally recognize Palestine, but doing so would be rewarding Hamas, which has repeatedly rejected peace attempts. Trump stressed the necessity of retrieving the hostages, stating, “We want all 20 back. We don’t want two and four.”
Although the meeting’s specific outcomes are not yet clear, the growing seriousness among Arab nations regarding ending the Gaza war is evident, with the release of hostages and humanitarian assistance being the top priorities. Whether this meeting leads to concrete outcomes that resolve the Gaza war or remains a diplomatic formality will be a crucial matter to observe.
