Trump meets ‘select’ Muslim leaders, including PM Shehbaz, on UNGA sidelines

• Trump hails meeting Muslim leaders and praises their efforts.
• Proposes Israeli withdrawal and Gaza rule without Hamas.
• US seeks Arab troops and funds for Gaza’s rebuilding.

US President Donald Trump’s meeting with leaders of Muslim-majority nations, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly focused on the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East.

Participants included Turkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, the UAE and Jordan.

The meeting lasted about 50 minutes. Calling it an honour to meet the heads of Islamic countries, Trump praised their collective efforts, saying, “You all have done an excellent job, which is commendable.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the talks as extremely productive. None of the other Muslim leaders spoke to the media after the meeting.

He also outlined US plans for an Israeli withdrawal and post-war governance in Gaza without Hamas involvement, according to US media. 

Washington is seeking Arab and Muslim nations’ agreement to send troops to Gaza to enable Israel’s withdrawal and to fund transition and rebuilding programmes, Axios reported.

Israel faces global condemnation over its military conduct in Gaza, where local health authorities say more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed.

 In recent weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has begun a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City, with no ceasefire in sight.

This is an ongoing story and is being updated with additional details.