US President Donald Trump on Saturday thanked Qatar's emir and prime minister for being a "big factor" in helping secure a Gaza ceasefire deal, during a refueling stop on his way to Asia.
Trump said he is closely monitoring Hamas’s actions in Gaza, urging the group to expedite the return of the bodies of deceased hostages withheld in the enclave. He added on his Truth Social platform: “Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours.”
Trump went on to say that other nations involved in the peace process would take action if Hamas failed to return the bodies of the captives. He noted that while some of the bodies are difficult to retrieve, others “can be returned now.”
Earlier, Trump described Qatar as a “great ally” of the United States, according to the Qatar News Agency. He expressed gratitude to the State of Qatar saying “We have a very strong peace in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being everlasting”.
This came after Trump met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during a stopover in Doha on his way to Asia.
The Qatari leaders boarded Air Force One when it landed at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the regional headquarters for the US military and thousands of American troops.
Trump said the duo had played a crucial role in the Middle East peace process, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had been his "friend to the world."
Trump is traveling to Asia for the first time since retaking office in January, with two regional summits and face-to-face meetings with China's Xi Jinping and other leaders on the agenda.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, fresh off a trip to Israel as part of an all-out diplomatic push by Washington to keep the Gaza truce on track, was present for the meeting with Qatar's leaders.
For his part, Rubio said US officials are receiving proposals for a possible United Nations resolution or international agreement to authorize a multinational force in the Gaza Strip, noting that the issue will be discussed in Qatar on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters while traveling by air between Israel and Qatar, Rubio said that many countries have expressed interest in participating at some level - whether financially, with personnel, or both. This would require a UN resolution or an international agreement, as their domestic laws mandate it.
