At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S. President Donald Trump convened a high-level meeting with leaders from key Muslim nations to press for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, according to the Emirati state news agency WAM.
The session — attended by officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Indonesia and Pakistan — centered on halting the ongoing war in Gaza, releasing hostages still held by Hamas, and alleviating the worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
WAM reported that participants emphasized the urgency of securing an immediate end to the fighting while charting steps for long-term stability, including humanitarian aid delivery and rebuilding efforts.
The gathering underscores Trump’s effort to balance U.S. support for Israel with growing international pressure to contain the conflict, which has stretched into its third year and displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. It also reflects the heightened role of Arab and Muslim-majority states, many of whom are seeking stronger guarantees that any ceasefire would include mechanisms to isolate Hamas from future governance.
The meeting took place a day after Trump addressed the General Assembly, where he warned against recognizing Palestinian statehood before hostages are released and called Hamas an obstacle to peace. His administration has also floated the idea of a multinational force — potentially drawn from Arab and Muslim states — to stabilize Gaza once Israel withdraws.
While no concrete agreement emerged from Wednesday’s discussions, officials described the talks as a step toward bridging gaps between Israel’s allies and Muslim-majority countries increasingly alarmed by the humanitarian toll.
