Trump's remarks came during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, where he said: "I spoke today with several Middle Eastern leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and we discussed issues related to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. But I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Enough is enough. It's time to stop."
Last July, the Israeli Knesset overwhelmingly approved a declaration supporting the annexation of the West Bank, amid repeated calls from Likud Party ministers and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana for the annexation to be implemented "immediately."
For his part, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told reporters at the United Nations headquarters on Thursday that Arab and Islamic countries "made it fully clear to President Trump the seriousness of any Israeli annexation of the West Bank," adding that the message had been clearly conveyed to the US president.
Prince Faisal added, "Any annexation in the West Bank will not only pose a threat to the chances of achieving peace in Gaza, but will also undermine any possibility of sustainable peace at all." He emphasized that ending the Israeli war of extermination in Gaza must be an "urgent priority," and that ending the humanitarian suffering in the Strip is "a prerequisite for moving forward with the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Saudi Arabia announces an international coalition to fund the Palestinian Authority, while Egypt says it is open to deploying international forces in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia announces an international coalition to fund the Palestinian Authority, while Egypt says it is open to deploying international forces in Gaza.
The Saudi Foreign Minister noted that the latest US proposals focus on ending the war in Gaza, a move welcomed by Arab and Islamic countries, emphasizing their broad engagement with Washington on this path.
On Tuesday, Trump presented a 21-point peace plan, including the Gaza issue, to Arab and Muslim leaders, according to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who did not reveal details. The US president is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington next Monday.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 65,502 martyrs and 167,376 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.
In parallel with the genocide in Gaza, the Israeli occupation army and settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, killed at least 1,046 Palestinians, injured approximately 10,160, and arrested more than 19,000, according to official Palestinian data.
