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 .

“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.”

The meeting comes as several senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President

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