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United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Israel over annexing the West Bank in an interview, as visiting secretary of state Marco Rubio voiced confidence that a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza would hold.
Trump’s remarks made to Time Magazine by telephone on 15 October — just days after the Gaza truce plan he spearheaded took effect — but were only published on Thursday.
“It won’t happen,” Trump said when asked about calls in Israel to annex the West Bank, the Palestinian territory, which Israel has occupied since the Six-Day War in 1967.
“It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” he said.
“If this were to occur, Israel would risk losing all backing from the United States.”
Israeli leaders advanced two bills paving the way for West Bank annexation earlier this week, leading to condemnation from US vice president JD Vance, who was in Israel at the time and who echoed Trump’s comments.
When asked if he was concerned by the votes, Trump told reporters at the White House: “Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel’s not going to do anything with the West Bank.”
The relationship between the US and Israel is anchored in strong military and diplomatic alliances.
