Trump greets Qatari emir aboard Air Force One during refueling stop en route to Asia

DOHA, QATAR: President Donald Trump made a stop in Doha on Saturday, October 25, where he met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani aboard the Air Force One during a refueling break on his way to Asia.

“As soon as I found out that he’s coming to refuel, I said, ‘I’m not going to allow him to take off unless I come and say hello,’” the emir told reporters after the meeting. 

Trump says focus on Gaza ceasefire and ‘real peace’

Trump praised the Qatari leader as “one of the great rulers of the world,” thanking him for his role in maintaining regional calm.

“We express our thanks, and you have a safe Middle East right now, and you keep it that way for a long time,” Trump said.

Also present were Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The meeting reportedly focused heavily on Qatar’s role in mediating the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which has drawn praise from Washington and other world capitals.

Trump told reporters that he and the emir discussed the implementation of the Gaza peace deal.

The plan includes an International Stabilization Force to train vetted Palestinian police units and help maintain security in the enclave.

When asked when the force would be ready to deploy, Trump replied, “Pretty quickly. They’re actually picking leaders right now. This is real peace.”

The president expressed optimism that the ceasefire could hold and bring “enduring peace” to the region.

Trump reiterates his warning to Hamas

Pressed on what would happen if the truce collapses, Trump delivered a pointed warning to Hamas.

“If it doesn’t hold, then they’ll have a very big problem,” he said.

Trump has reportedly repeatedly cautioned Hamas leaders to honor the terms of the US-brokered agreement, which was finalized earlier this month after weeks of Qatari and Egyptian mediation.

Trump even issued a blunt warning on Tuesday, October 21, stating that several US partners in and around the Middle East had offered to send forces into Gaza to "straighten" out Hamas if the militant group violated the negotiated ceasefire with Israel.

“Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and “straighten our Hamas” if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us,” he said in a post on Truth Social. 

Trump asks Hamas to return bodies 'quickly'

After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social.

"We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING. Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action," he wrote

Trump also gave a 48 hour deadline for Hamas to act.

"Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not. Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, “Both sides would be treated fairly,” that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely," he concluded.