New York: The president of the United States, Donald Trump, celebrated dinner with Qatar Prime Minister in New York on Friday, days after the ally of the United States, Israel, attacked Hamas leaders in Doha.
Israel tried to kill Hamas’ political leaders with an attack on Qatar on Tuesday, a strike that risked the efforts supported by the United States to negotiate a truce in Gaza and end the conflict of almost two years. The attack was widely convicted in the Middle East and beyond as an act that could intensify tensions in a region that is already nervous.
Trump expressed his discomfort about the strike in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tried to ensure the Qataris that such attacks would not happen again.
Trump and Qatare’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, joined Trump’s main advisor, the special envoy of the United States Steve Witkoff.
“Great dinner with Potus. I just finished,” said Qatar Mission Deputy Director, Hamah Al-Mufah, in X.
The White House confirmed that dinner had taken place but did not offer details.
The session followed a one-hour meeting that Al-Thani had at the White House on Friday with vice president JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
An informed source about the meeting said they discussed the future of Qatar as a mediator in the region and defense cooperation following Israeli attacks against Hamas in Doha.
Trump said he was not happy with Israel’s strike, which he described as a unilateral action that did not advance in the interests of the United States or Israel.
Washington has Qatar as a strong ally of the Gulf. Qatar has been a main mediator in long -standing negotiations for a high fire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and for a plan after conflict for the territory.
Al-Thani blamed Israel on Tuesday for trying to sabotage peace opportunities, but said Qatar would not be deterred with his role as a mediator.
Israel’s assault to Gaza since October 2023 has killed more than 64,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, while internally displacing almost the entire population of Gaza and triggered a star crisis. Experts and multi -rights academics say that Israel’s military assault is equivalent to genocide.
Israel has rejected that determination. He launched his offensive in Gaza after an attack of fighters led by Hamas in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken as hostages, according to the many Israelis. Israel has also bombarded Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the course of the Gaza conflict.
