US president holds talks with Qatari leaders on Air Force One as Washington pushes to reach second phase of Gaza plan.US President Donald Trump has thanked Qatar for its efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip, as the United States presses ahead with negotiations on the next phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan.Trump welcomed Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on board Air Force One on Saturday as the US president’s plane stopped to refuel in the Gulf country on its way to a summit in Malaysia.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list“We’ve done a lot together, especially in the last year,” Trump said alongside the Qatari leaders.“What we’ve done is incredible – peace to the Middle East – and they were a very big factor in it, so I just want to thank you.”In a readout of the talks shared by the Qatar News Agency, the country said the leaders discussed a range of issues, including efforts related to “supporting peace in the region, consolidating the agreement to end the war in Gaza, and ensuring the parties’ implementation of all its provisions”.The meeting comes as several senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were in Israel this week to ensure the top US ally abides by the deal and to discuss the details of phase two of the US-led plan.Experts say several elements of the agreement, including Washington’s demand that Hamas …
