NEW YORK: The US may end the Gaza war “right now,” President Donald Trump told a meeting of Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN on Tuesday.
“We want to end the war in Gaza. We’re going to end it. Maybe we can end it right now,” he told the leaders and the media.
Trump said he would “see the people in Israel,” including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “and we’re going to get something done because it’s gone on too long, and we want it to end.”
He added: “We’re here to see if we can get the hostages back and get the war over and get back to life in the Middle East, which is a beautiful life, but it’s much more beautiful without wars, right?”
The meeting was attended by the presidents or foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia.
Trump described them as “great leaders from a very important part of our planet” who are “respected all over the world.”
He added: “They’re respected by me in the Oval Office, I can tell you that. They’re respected by the US.”
Trump highlighted the issue of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups. “Right now, they have 20 hostages and 38 dead bodies … We have to get the 38 back and we have to get the 20 back, and I think we’ll be able to do it,” he said.
“This is the group that can do it more than any other group in the world. This is the group that can do it.”
Qatar’s emir told Trump: “The only reason you’re here is to stop the war and bring the hostages back. And we count on you and your leadership as well to end this war and to help the people of Gaza. The situation is very, very, very bad there.”
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani added: “We’re here to meet and to do everything we can to stop this war, and to bring the hostages back.”
