U.S. President Donald Trump will meet leaders and officials from multiple Muslim-majority countries on Tuesday and discuss the situation in Gaza, which has been under a mounting assault from Washington’s ally Israel.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday that Trump will hold a multilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. A person familiar with the matter said Gaza will be discussed.
Trump’s Gaza Governance Proposal with Blair Plan
In addition to freeing hostages and ending the war, Trump is expected to discuss U.S. plans around an Israeli withdrawal and post-war governance in Gaza, without Hamas involvement, according to Axios.
Washington wants Arab and Muslim countries to agree to send military forces to Gaza to enable Israel’s withdrawal and to secure funding for transition and rebuilding programs, Axios reported.
Trump will address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, a day after dozens of world leaders gathered at the United Nations to embrace a Palestinian state, a landmark diplomatic shift nearly two years into the Gaza war that faces fierce resistance from Israel and the United States. The nations said a two-state solution was the only way to achieve peace, but Israel said the recognition of a Palestinian state was a reward to extremism.
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Ex-U.S. President Trump is expected to present the group with U.S.-backed proposals for post-war governance in Gaza, which would mean Gaza being governed without the presence of Hamas. The plan has been developed in recent months along with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. The plan calls for the freeing of all hostages still held in Gaza. It also calls for the phased withdrawal of Israel’s military forces, while Arab and Muslim troops would be deployed to secure Gaza after Israel’s exit. It further calls for the exclusion of Hamas from any future governing framework.
Palestine appreciates France, Saudi Arabia
Though not allowed to travel to the US for the UNGA session, in a video message, Palestinian Prime Minister appreciated the recognition of the Palestinian state from France and the UK.
“We appreciate the positions of the states that have recognized the State of Palestine, and we call upon those that have not yet recognized it to do so, and we demand support for Palestine’s attainment of full membership in the United Nations,” said Abbas in the statement.
He underscored the pivotal roles played by the “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, France, and also Britain in mobilizing further international recognition, and thanks are extended to all the countries participating in the Conference for their important role in issuing the New York Declaration and moving toward irreversible actions for peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with international legitimacy.”
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The U.S.-backed funding plan, moreover, involves stakeholders and the international community providing funds for rebuilding Gaza. Washington hopes Arab and Muslim states will agree to contribute both forces and financing for this transition. Before the multilateral sessions, President Trump is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning. Later in the evening, Trump is expected to host a reception for more than 100 world leaders. Afterwards, he will return to Washington, where he is scheduled to host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The meeting comes a day after dozens of world leaders have joined the pool of 140 countries accepting the Palestinian statehood, despite strong opposition from Israel and Washington. The latest countries to recognize Palestinian statehood are the diplomatic heavyweights of the UK, Australia, and Canada, advocating for the two-state solution.
#WATCH: President Trump to meet leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations on UN General Assembly sidelines today, confirms White House press secretary https://t.co/LtfFQDGyZq pic.twitter.com/4pzkIKV8i2
— Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) September 23, 2025
Global Push for Palestinian Statehood Sparks Tensions
Israel, however, has denounced such recognition as a reward for extremism. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to give a stern response to the countries accepting Palestinian statehood.
The latest report issued by the rights groups and UN confirms Israel’s Gaza campaign as amounting to genocide, while Israel denies these reports and calls its actions in Gaza an attempt at self-defense after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, in which more than 250 people were taken hostage.
Nearly eight months ago, President Trump entered office with the promise to swiftly put an end to the ongoing Gaza war. However, no resolution has been materialized as yet. The Blair Plan, backed up by the UK, is the most ambitious attempt to end the ongoing war and reshape Gaza’s governance. Whether Arab and Muslim leaders will accept a US-framed solution that excludes Hamas and requires their direct involvement remains uncertain, but the consequences of Tuesday’s meeting can prove crucial in the path towards peace.
With Additional inputs from the GVS news desk