Washington- US President Donald Trump said he will not allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the occupied West Bank. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump stressed, “It’s not going to happen,” ahead of Netanyahu’s UN address.

Trump also claimed a Gaza deal is “pretty close,” adding he had spoken with Netanyahu and other Middle Eastern leaders. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, addressing the UN by video, expressed readiness to work with global leaders on a French-backed peace plan.

Global pressure on Israel is rising, with the UK, Germany, and the UN warning that annexation would be “intolerable.” Several Western countries have recently recognised an independent Palestinian state, further isolating Israel.

Meanwhile, Gaza faces dire conditions. Over 65,000 Palestinians, including more than 18,000 children, have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN says half a million people in Gaza face “catastrophic” starvation.

Israel has dismissed genocide accusations but faces growing international sanctions and trade restrictions.