“One last shot” and “most important meeting” — this was how U.S. President Donald Trump framed his plan to end the war in Gaza, underscoring the urgency of negotiations during his multilateral meeting with Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York on September 23, 2025. President Trump met with leaders from Qatar, Jordan, Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, describing it as a critical discussion on Gaza. While representatives from Israel and Palestine were absent, President Trump stated that “we want to end the war in Gaza,” expressing optimism that “maybe we can end it right now”[1] adding that the conflict has gone on too long, needed to stop immediately, hinting at peace after the hostage return.
In the weeks leading up to the UNGA, Israel had carried out a major attack in Qatar, triggering diplomatic outrage, putting Washington under pressure to respond. President Trump invited Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Washington immediately after the attack; thereafter, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Israel, reflecting the delicate balance Washington has been attempting to strike between Arab capitals and its long-time ally Israel.
