Trump Thanks Qatar for Mediation Efforts as Gaza Talks Advance
US President Donald Trump has expressed gratitude to Qatar for its mediation efforts in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations as Washington continues to push for progress on the second phase of the 20-point Gaza plan.
Trump met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani aboard Air Force One during a refuelling stop at Al Udeid Air Base near Doha on Saturday. The meeting took place as the US president travelled to a summit in Malaysia.
“We’ve done a lot together, especially in the last year,” Trump said alongside the Qatari leaders. “What we’ve done is incredible – peace to the Middle East – and they were a very big factor in it, so I just want to thank you.”
According to a readout shared by the Qatar News Agency, the talks focused on efforts to sustain peace in the region, consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza, and ensure full implementation of the agreement’s provisions.
The meeting follows a week of visits by senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to Israel. The US delegation aimed to ensure Israel’s compliance with the ceasefire terms and to discuss the details of phase two of the peace plan, which reportedly includes conditions for Hamas’s disarmament and potential deployment of an international security force in Gaza.
Despite diplomatic optimism, tensions persist on the ground. Reporting from Doha, Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari noted that parts of the initial ceasefire phase remain incomplete, including the handover of Israeli captives’ bodies. Israel has accused Hamas of delays, while Hamas claims that continued bombardments have hindered access to affected areas.
In Gaza, medical sources said several Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli forces on Saturday. Four others were injured in an airstrike on a car in Nuseirat refugee camp, which Israel claimed targeted a Palestinian Islamic Jihad member. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud described the attack as “a breach of an already fragile ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, US officials have maintained a positive tone, suggesting that negotiations are moving forward. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Washington is exploring a possible United Nations resolution or international agreement to authorise a multinational force in Gaza. He added that discussions with Qatari officials would continue on Sunday.
“The message from the Trump administration today is clear,” Jabbari reported. “Qatar remains a central player in the peace process. Without its mediation, this ceasefire might not have been possible — and moving forward, their role will be crucial in ensuring the next stages succeed.”
