Arab, Muslim leaders press for Gaza truce at summit with Trump

Arab and Muslim leaders have stressed the need to end the war in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire that would ensure the release of hostages and the entry of humanitarian aid as the first step toward a just and lasting peace.

The appeal was made in a joint statement after a multilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations headquarters. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly.

The summit was convened at Trump’s initiative and co-hosted by Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

It was attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Kamal Madbouly, UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Arab and OIC leaders thanked Trump for convening the meeting and highlighted what they called the unbearable situation in Gaza, describing a humanitarian catastrophe with a high civilian toll.

They said the conflict carried serious consequences for the region and the wider Muslim world.

The leaders rejected forced displacement and urged the return of those who had fled. They also emphasized the need to stabilize the West Bank and safeguard Jerusalem’s holy sites.

They reiterated their willingness to cooperate with Trump and underlined the importance of his leadership to end the war and open a path toward peace.

“The leaders emphasized the need to end the war and achieve an immediate ceasefire that would ensure releasing the hostages and allowing the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid as the first step toward a just and lasting peace,” the statement said.

The participants voiced support for Palestinian Authority reform and discussed the need for a comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction.

They said the plan should be based on Arab and OIC proposals, include security arrangements, and be backed by international assistance to support the Palestinian leadership.

They pledged to work together to rebuild Palestinian lives in Gaza and ensure the success of reconstruction efforts.

The leaders also said the New York summit should mark the beginning of a process leading to peace and regional cooperation.

Senior officials also joined the talks, including the prime ministers and foreign ministers of Qatar, Pakistan, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Indonesia.

U.S. President was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who also serves as his Middle East envoy, and other senior officials.