US Warns Israel Against Annexing West Bank as Gaza Truce Falters

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Israel against annexing the West Bank in an interview published in Time magazine, stating that if Israel proceeds with annexation, it would "lose all of its support from the United States." The warning comes as visiting Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed confidence in a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza, despite recent violence surging in the West Bank since the war began with Hamas's October 2023 attack. Israeli lawmakers had advanced two bills paving the way for West Bank annexation, leading to condemnation from US Vice-President JD Vance and Arab and Muslim countries.

Key Takeaways:

• US President Donald Trump warned Israel against annexing the West Bank, stating that it would lose all of its support from the United States.
• Trump's warning came as visiting Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed confidence in a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza.
• Israeli lawmakers had advanced two bills paving the way for West Bank annexation, leading to condemnation from US Vice-President JD Vance and Arab and Muslim countries.
• Arab and Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Türkiye, have warned that annexation of the West Bank is a red line.
• The US remains Israel's most important military and diplomatic supporter, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party boycotting and criticising the vote.
• The Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, where nearly 1,000 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers since October 2023.
• Delegations from Hamas and its longtime rival Fatah met in Cairo on Thursday to discuss the second phase of a US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan.
• The World Health Organization said there had been little improvement in the amount of aid going into Gaza since the ceasefire took hold – and no observable reduction in hunger.
• Nigeria's opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's comments calling Saudi Arabia to "keep riding camels" in response to normalisation talks with Israel.

Statistics:

• Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers since October 2023.
• 43 Israelis, including members of the security forces, have died in Palestinian attacks or Israeli operations since October 2023.
• The Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank.

Sources:

• Time magazine
• AFP
• Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry
• World Health Organization