Leaders of key Arab and Muslim-majority nations urged U.S. President Donald Trump to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, during a high-level meeting convened on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a joint statement released after the meeting on Tuesday, the leaders highlighted the “unbearable situation” in Gaza and called for a halt to hostilities that would facilitate the release of hostages and allow critical humanitarian aid into the Israeli-blockaded enclave.
The summit, initiated by President Trump and co-hosted with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, brought together eight prominent leaders from Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The meeting focused on what participants described as the “catastrophic” humanitarian and security crisis in war-torn Gaza.
Trump urges talks to immediately stop Gaza war; demands release of all Israeli hostages now
Other heads of state and senior officials in attendance included King Abdullah II of Jordan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Kamal Madbouly, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Also present were senior foreign ministers from the participating nations, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (Qatar), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar (Pakistan), Ayman Safadi (Jordan), Hakan Fidan (Turkey), Badr Abdelattay (Egypt), and Sugiono (Indonesia).
From the U.S. side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff were part of President Trump’s delegation.
In their joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed their readiness to work with President Trump, stressing the importance of his leadership in bringing an end to the conflict and paving the way for a just and lasting peace in the region.
Informal exchange followed the dialogue between President Trump and leaders of eight Islamic-Arab countries, including Pakistan. Prime Minister @CMShehbaz and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator @MIshaqDar50 joined President @realDonaldTrump in the discussion. pic.twitter.com/Ku0Iaycha8
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 23, 2025
The leaders collectively rejected the notion of forced displacement in Gaza and emphasized the right of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes. They underscored the need for a comprehensive stabilization plan—covering Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem’s holy sites—to ensure long-term regional security and stability.
The statement also called for the swift implementation of a Gaza reconstruction plan based on the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) proposals, with robust international support to rebuild Palestinian lives and institutions.
While the joint communiqué did not detail President Trump’s remarks, the Times of Israel reported that the proposed U.S. plan, presented during Tuesday’s meeting, includes the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the release of remaining hostages, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip under a non-Hamas administration.
Some elements of the proposal are reportedly based on a peace plan developed by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Ahead of the meeting, Trump told reporters the session was his “most important” engagement of the day.
Turkish President Erdoğan described the meeting as “fruitful” during a Tuesday evening interview with Fox News, though he did not elaborate. Erdoğan and Trump are scheduled to meet again in Washington on Thursday for further discussions.
The White House has so far not released any details or commented on reports about the meeting.
The joint statement concluded with a collective commitment from all participants to continue diplomatic efforts and maintain momentum toward durable peace. The leaders expressed hope that the New York meeting would serve as a launchpad for a sustained process leading to lasting peace and regional cooperation.
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Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
