Donald Trump has stated he will not allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The US president conveyed this message to White House reporters just before Netanyahu's address to the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Trump stated, I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank... It's not going to happen. This remark was made as he prepared to meet Netanyahu on Monday, highlighting an effort to limit the Israeli government's actions amidst ongoing conflicts in the region.
Additionally, Trump noted that a ceasefire deal concerning the war in Gaza is pretty close, as Israel faces escalating international pressures to resolve the ongoing conflict and occupation of the West Bank. While the far-right factions within Netanyahu's coalition advocate for annexation as a means of obstructing Palestinian statehood, global leaders like those from the UK and Germany have cautioned Israel against such actions, with UN Secretary General António Guterres condemning annexation as morally, legally and politically intolerable.\
Both Trump and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who addressed the UN via video link, are navigating a complex landscape with competing narratives regarding sovereignty, peace negotiations, and recognition of Palestinian statehood. Recent declarations from various nations recognizing Palestine have added urgency to these discussions, as Trump engages with key Arab and Muslim leaders, warning of consequences should Israel proceed with annexation plans.
With tensions rising, the Israeli military's recent closure of the only international crossing between the West Bank and Jordan further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, already complicated by increasing casualties from ongoing military actions in Gaza.
