President Trump is expected to meet on Friday evening in New York with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and discuss the aftermath of the Israeli strike against Hamas leaders in Doha earlier this week, two sources with direct knowledge said.
Why it matters: The meeting with the Qatari prime minister is another way for Trump to signal his support for Qatar and opposition to the Israeli strike.
On Tuesday, after the Israeli strike, Trump instructed Rubio to accelerate the discussions on such an agreement.
What they’re saying: At Qatar’s request, the UN Security Council convened on Thursday to discuss the Israeli strike.
Go deeper: Trump demanded Netanyahu commit not to strike Qatar again
According to two people with direct knowledge, President Trump is scheduled to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, on Friday night in New York to talk about the fallout from the Israeli strike against Hamas leaders in Doha earlier this week.
The significance of the meeting lies in the fact that it is another way for Trump to express his opposition to the Israeli strike and support for Qatar.
According to al-Thani, the encounter with Trump and other high-ranking U. S. officials are a part of Qatar’s diplomatic effort to put more pressure on the world community to stop Israel’s war in Gaza.
Driving the news: On D-dotC, the prime minister of Qatar is scheduled to arrive in Washington. According to the State Department, they will meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Friday morning.
Additionally, according to two people with knowledge, al-Thani intended to meet with Vice President JD Vance. When asked for comment, the vice president’s office did not reply.
The sources said the Qatari prime minister is scheduled to visit New York on Friday night to meet with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump.
Axios’s request for comment was not immediately answered by the White House.
Between the lines: A U will be one of the topics al-Thani discusses during his meetings in Washington. S. -Qatar security accord, according to sources.
Following Tuesday’s Israeli strike, Trump gave Rubio instructions to expedite talks on a deal of that kind.
They want to try to use the Iranian strike against the United States. S. base in Qatar and the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha in an attempt to obtain a formal security assurance from the Trump administration.
Saying: The UN Security Council met Thursday to discuss the Israeli strike at Qatar’s request.
Qatar will continue to play a “humanitarian and diplomatic role” in the conflict in Gaza, despite Al-Thani’s condemnation of the Israeli military’s actions.
Since October, the main mediator in the ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Gaza has been Qatar. Seven attacks.
“I’m hoping the Israeli strike in Qatar won’t have an impact on the talks in Gaza. Trump told reporters on Thursday that he wanted the hostages released as soon as possible.
Dig deeper: Trump asked Netanyahu to promise not to attack Qatar once more.
