Tag: Doha Amid Heightened Tensions

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, is holding high-level talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York, following Israel’s deadly strike on the Qatari capital earlier this week. The Israeli air raid, which targeted a Hamas meeting in Doha on Tuesday, killed five Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer. The meeting was reportedly convened to discuss a new ceasefire proposal brokered by Trump aimed at ending the Gaza war. Sheikh Mohammed’s diplomatic efforts in the U.S. come at a tense moment in regional and international relations. Prior to his dinner meeting with Trump on Friday, the Qatari leader met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House. According to reports, discussions centered on the fallout from the Israeli strike and the future of U.S.-Qatar security cooperation. Al Jazeera’s correspondent Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, noted that the meetings are part of a broader attempt to navigate the increasingly complicated relationship between Qatar and the U.S. following Israel’s actions. “The concern is that the relationship between Qatar and the United States has become increasingly complicated as a result of those strikes,” Halkett said. “They’re looking for a path forward on both of those issues.” While the exact location and time of the Trump meeting remain undisclosed, sources confirmed the former president is currently in New York, staying at Trump Tower. The attack on Doha has drawn rare international condemnation against Israel, including from the U.S., which typically stands as one of Israel’s staunchest defenders. In a rare move on Thursday, the U.S. joined other United Nations Security Council members in condemning the strike, which many see as an effort to derail ceasefire negotiations. Despite this condemnation, the Trump administration is continuing to walk a diplomatic tightrope. Secretary of State Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel this weekend for a two-day visit, signaling continued U.S. support. The visit comes ahead of a pivotal UN summit on September 22, where several Western nations are expected to back formal recognition of a Palestinian state. According to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, Rubio will reaffirm U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and oppose unilateral moves seen as legitimizing Hamas. “He will also emphasise our shared goals: ensuring Hamas never rules over Gaza again and bringing all the hostages home,” Pigott said. Meanwhile, momentum appears to be building globally for a renewed push toward a two-state solution. At a UN General Assembly meeting on Friday, a resolution calling for “collective action” to end the war in Gaza received strong backing, led by France and Saudi Arabia. The Gaza conflict has already claimed more than 64,000 lives, and pressure is mounting on all parties to reach a sustainable political resolution. As tensions escalate, the outcome of Sheikh Mohammed’s meetings in Washington could play a crucial role in shaping the next phase of diplomacy in the region.