In brief
During a press briefing, President Trump made clear he would not support any annexation of the West Bank by Israel. He stated, \"I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank... It's not going to happen,\" amid increasing international recognition of Palestinian statehood and an ongoing conflict in Gaza. Trump's comments come as he prepares to meet with Netanyahu and emphasizes the importance of a Gaza peace deal, highlighting the urgency of the situation in the region.
US President Donald Trump has said he will not allow Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Speaking ahead of the Israeli prime minister's address to the UN General Assembly on Friday, the US president told reporters in the Oval Office: I will not allow Israel to annex... It's not going to happen.
Trump, who will meet Netanyahu on Monday, also mentioned that a Gaza deal was pretty close.
Israel faces growing global pressure to end the war in Gaza and occupation of the West Bank as many Western states formally recognize Palestinian statehood.
Calls for annexation are repeated by ultranationalists in Netanyahu's governing coalition.
International warnings against such actions have come from the UK and Germany, while UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned annexation as morally, legally and politically intolerable.
In his recent remarks, Trump reflected on discussions with Netanyahu and other Middle Eastern leaders, saying, We’re getting pretty close to having a deal on Gaza, and maybe even peace. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also reiterated his readiness to cooperate globally for peace efforts.
The recent closure of a key crossing between the West Bank and Jordan has stranded Palestinians, further complicating the humanitarian situation exacerbated by military actions in Gaza.
As the conflict continues, international conversations about recognizing a Palestinian state gain momentum, alongside initiatives to restrict trade with Israel in response to the ongoing violence.
