US President Donald Trump hosted a dinner with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York on Friday, days after Israel launched a strike in Doha targeting Hamas political leaders.
The attack, carried out Tuesday, was widely condemned across the Middle East as a move that risked derailing US-backed mediation efforts to secure a Gaza truce and raised fears of further escalation in an already volatile region.
Trump, frustrated by Israel’s unilateral move, had earlier expressed his displeasure directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that such actions did not serve US or Israeli interests.
During the dinner, which was also attended by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump sought to reassure Qatari officials that similar incidents would not recur. Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, Hamah Al-Muftah, confirmed the meeting on X, describing it as a “great dinner with POTUS.”
The dinner followed an earlier White House meeting between al-Thani, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where discussions focused on Qatar’s ongoing role as a key regional mediator, as well as strengthening defence cooperation in the wake of the Israeli strike.
A source familiar with the talks said that Qatar’s efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas were central to the discussions, particularly given Doha’s importance in hostage negotiations and post-conflict planning for Gaza.
Al-Thani condemned Israel’s attempt to sabotage peace efforts but reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to mediation despite the risks. Since Israel’s Gaza offensive began in October 2023, Palestinian health officials report over 64,000 deaths, widespread displacement, and a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
While rights experts describe Israel’s actions as genocide, Israel has rejected the charge, continuing military operations across Gaza and in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen. Against this backdrop, Trump’s engagement with Qatar underscores Washington’s reliance on Doha as a crucial partner in navigating one of the world’s most complex conflicts.
