On the sidelines of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S. President Donald Trump met with leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority countries to present a post-war reconstruction plan for Gaza that excludes Hamas from any future role.
The closed-door session included senior officials from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Trump called the meeting “the most important” of his day and emphasized his intent to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.
The proposed U.S. framework includes a phased Israeli withdrawal, deployment of peacekeeping forces from Arab and Muslim nations, regional funding for reconstruction, and new administrative mechanisms that bypass Hamas.
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Participating countries were invited to review the plan and offer feedback. Some expressed interest in supporting peacekeeping efforts and contributing financially. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reiterated his country’s readiness to send troops.
Leaders stressed the need for a just resolution, economic recovery, and long-term stability. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the meeting as “very productive” and said a joint declaration would be issued soon.
At the conclusion, Trump stated, “It was a very good meeting. The next step is meeting with Israel.” He added, “I’ll be seeing Bibi soon. This takes time—we want the hostages.” Trump made no mention of the thousands of Palestinians, including children, women, elders, political leaders and ailing political prisoners, held by Israel.
The UAE later confirmed that the summit focused on ending the war and achieving a permanent ceasefire.
On the ground, earlier Wednesday, Israeli forces continued the bombing and shelling of various parts of the devastated Gaza Strip, killing at least 29 Palestinians, and wounding dozens. The dead include at least 17 people killed in an attack near a market in central Gaza City, according to a source at al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Al-Jazeera said.
