U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, rejecting pressure from Israeli far-right politicians as Arab and Muslim leaders warned of grave regional consequences.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump declared, “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen. There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”
His comments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, after weeks of mounting pressure from his coalition allies to extend sovereignty over Palestinian land.
France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal have recently formally recognised Palestinian statehood in the last few days - a move condemned by Israel but praised by Arab leaders as necessary to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.
About 700,000 Israeli settlers 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, a position Israel disputes.
Trump has faced strong warnings from Saudi Arabia and other regional powers that annexation would destabilise the Middle East further.
Gaza conflict
Alongside the West Bank dispute, Washington has circulated a 21-point peace plan to leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan aimed at ending the nearly two-year Gaza war.
Trump said he had spoken with Netanyahu and Arab leaders this week and signalled optimism.
“We want the hostages back, we want the bodies back and we want to have peace in that region. So we had some very good talks,” Trump said.
Israel has pressed deeper into Gaza City, while aid flotillas, The Global Sumud Flotilla, containing around 50 civilian boats, supported by Italy and Spain navy ships, continue attempts to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Strip.
These boats are in reaction to reports that part of Gaza is suffering from famine according to a global hunger monitor.
Israel insists control of the West Bank and its settlement network is vital for security, especially after Hamas’ deadly 7 October, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. About 20 hostages are still believed to be alive.
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The United States and Argentina have signed a framework agreement to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals on Thursday (4 February), reaffirming...
Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes killed 24 Palestinians including seven children in Gaza on Wednesday (4 February), health officials said, the lat...
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U.S. President Donald Trump held an “excellent” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, (4 February), to discuss trade, energy, Taiwan, Iran, and Russia’s war in Ukraine, ahead of Trump’s planned visit to Beijing in April.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes killed 24 Palestinians including seven children in Gaza on Wednesday (4 February), health officials said, the latest violence to undermine the nearly four-month-old ceasefire.
An explosion and fire erupted after a fuel-laden freight train derailed at Kochyetovka station in Michurinsk, Russia, on Tuesday (4 February), halting rail traffic and triggering a major emergency response, authorities said.
Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío has denied that Havana and Washington have entered formal negotiations, countering recent assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump, while saying the island is open to dialogue under certain conditions.
Talks with the U.S. should be pursued to secure national interests as long as "threats and unreasonable expectations" are avoided, President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X on Tuesday (3 February).
Rivers and reservoirs across Spain and Portugal were on the verge of overflowing on Wednesday as a new weather front pounded the Iberian peninsula, compounding damage from last week's Storm Kristin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Tuesday (3 February) of exploiting a U.S.-backed energy ceasefire to stockpile weapons and launch large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine ahead of peace talks.
Morocco has evacuated more than 100,000 people from four provinces after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods across several northern regions, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump held an “excellent” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, (4 February), to discuss trade, energy, Taiwan, Iran, and Russia’s war in Ukraine, ahead of Trump’s planned visit to Beijing in April.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United States and Argentina have signed a framework agreement to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals on Thursday (4 February), reaffirming a shared commitment to building secure, resilient and competitive supply chains.
An explosion and fire erupted after a fuel-laden freight train derailed at Kochyetovka station in Michurinsk, Russia, on Tuesday (4 February), halting rail traffic and triggering a major emergency response, authorities said.
Ukrainian and Russian officials wrapped up a "productive" first day of new U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, Kyiv's lead negotiator said on Wednesday (4 February).
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