U.S. President Donald Trump has privately assured Arab and Muslim leaders that he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, according to The Times.
During a meeting in New York on Tuesday with eight Middle Eastern leaders, Trump emphasized that Israel would not be permitted to take control of territory governed by the Palestinian Authority, sources cited by Politico confirmed.
Trump and his team also presented a comprehensive Gaza peace plan, detailing a permanent ceasefire, post-war governance, and security arrangements. The plan reportedly draws on ideas developed by former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to Axios.
Key elements of the plan include:
- Gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
- A security force including Palestinians
- Arab and Muslim state support for reconstruction and the new administration
Arab leaders reportedly reacted positively but set conditions, including:
- Israel must not annex the West Bank or Gaza
- No occupation or settlement expansion in Gaza
- Immediate increase in humanitarian aid
President Trump has also called at the United Nations for an immediate end to the conflict and the release of all Israeli hostages. “We want to end the war in Gaza. We will end it. Perhaps we can end it right now,” Trump told reporters before the New York meeting.
“This is my most important meeting. One of the most important, because we aim to end something that should never have started,” he added.
The meeting at the UN included leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
