Sat Oct 25 19:37:43 UTC 2025: News Article: Trump Hails Qatari Role in Gaza Deal During Air Force One Talks as US Pushes for Phase Two
Doha, Qatar – US President Donald Trump held impromptu talks with Qatari leaders on board Air Force One Saturday, thanking them for their crucial role in brokering a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The meeting took place as Trump’s plane refueled in Qatar en route to a summit in Malaysia.
“We’ve done a lot together, especially in the last year,” Trump stated alongside Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. “What we’ve done is incredible – peace to the Middle East – and they were a very big factor in it.”
According to the Qatar News Agency, discussions focused on “supporting peace in the region, consolidating the agreement to end the war in Gaza, and ensuring the parties’ implementation of all its provisions.”
The meeting comes amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to secure the implementation of the first phase of its Gaza plan and to advance to the second phase. Key US officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visited Israel this week to ensure compliance and discuss the next steps.
However, significant hurdles remain. Al Jazeera reports that the release of all Israeli captives’ bodies from Gaza, a key component of the initial phase, is still incomplete, with each side blaming the other for the delay. Furthermore, questions persist surrounding the details of phase two, including Washington’s demand for Hamas to disarm and the potential deployment of an international security force to Gaza.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire remains fragile. Reports indicate that Israeli forces have continued to carry out deadly strikes across Gaza and impede the delivery of humanitarian aid, further straining the truce. On Saturday, medical sources reported multiple Palestinians wounded by Israeli fire.
Despite these challenges, US officials maintain a positive outlook. Secretary of State Rubio stated that American officials are seeking input on a potential UN resolution or international agreement to authorize a multinational force in Gaza, acknowledging the need for such authorization to secure participation from various countries.
According to Al Jazeera, the Trump administration is emphasizing Qatar’s essential role in the ongoing negotiations. “The United States president has highlighted that without their mediating efforts, this ceasefire would not have been possible in the first place,” reported Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari. “And of course, moving forward, in order to advance from one stage to the next, it has to be with the input and consultation of the Qataris.”
The situation in Gaza remains tense, with the success of the ceasefire and the transition to phase two hanging in the balance.
First Piper 