No annexation of West Bank: Trump
Reiterated that Gaza ceasefire deal closer than ever
US President Donald Trump has vowed to stop Israel from annexing the West Bank as he presses to end the Gaza conflict, ahead of a high-stakes visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, AFP reports.
“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “No, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen.”
Trump voiced optimism about ending nearly two years of devastating conflict, echoing the confidence expressed a day earlier on the sidelines of the United Nations by his roving envoy, Steve Witkoff.
“We’re getting pretty close to having a deal on Gaza and maybe even peace,” said Trump, who also spoke to Netanyahu by telephone.
Trump has repeated that “we’re going to be close to a deal” on Gaza during a press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the White House.
“I want to get the hostages back,” he said, referring to the Israeli captives still held in Gaza.
Trump added that he had a “great meeting” with Muslim leaders with whom he sat to discuss the situation in Gaza on Wednesday.
