Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration will not permit Israel to annex the West Bank, directly rejecting calls from Israeli far-right politicians and signaling that a Gaza peace deal may soon be within reach.
“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”
The comments came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York for his United Nations address. Netanyahu’s office said he would respond after returning to Israel. The rejection represents one of the clearest breaks between Trump and Israel’s ruling coalition, which has faced international backlash for its settlement expansion.
Annexation fears and global reaction
The issue gained urgency after Israel’s approval of the controversial E1 project in August, a settlement plan that would bisect the West Bank and sever Palestinian hopes of statehood. Ultra-nationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said at the time that the move “erases” any discussion of a Palestinian state.
Arab leaders, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, warned Trump this week at the UN of the grave regional consequences of annexation. The president “understands very well,” the minister said. Roughly 700,000 Israeli settlers now live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Most of the international community views settlements as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this, citing historical and security claims.
Gaza war and U.S. peace plan
Trump’s remarks coincided with the U.S. unveiling of a 21-point Middle East peace plan aimed at halting the nearly two-year-long Gaza war. The plan, shared with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, emphasizes hostage returns, halting escalations, and new dialogue between Israel and Palestinians.
“We want the hostages back, we want the bodies back, and we want peace in that region,” Trump said, adding that “a Gaza deal could happen pretty soon.”
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages, has left more than 65,000 Palestinians dead and parts of Gaza in famine conditions, according to local health monitors.
As Israel presses deeper into Gaza City, international condemnation has intensified. Italy and Spain deployed naval vessels this week to escort a civilian aid flotilla attempting to break Israel’s blockade.
By blocking Trump West Bank annexation plans and pressing for a Gaza framework, the White House is trying to balance Israel’s security concerns with international calls for a two-state solution, a stance that could redefine Washington’s credibility as a peace broker in the region.
