Israel could lose US support if it annexes West Bank – DW – 10/23/2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyanhu, where the two discussed the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan for the region.

According to Rubio, his visit was to “reaffirm America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” as well as “engage with partners” regarding Trump’s peace plan, which Rubio called “historic” on his X account.

Israeli media reported US and Israeli officials would discuss issue of the Gaza Strip’s transitional government during Rubio’s visit.

Delegations from rival Palestinian factions Hamasand Fatah are holding a meeting in Egypt to discuss “arrangements after ending the war in Gaza” as part of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan, according to Egyptian outlet Al-Qahera News.

The delegations were meeting “to discuss the national scene in general and arrangements after ending the war in Gaza,” according to the report.

Al-Qahera News is known to be close to the country’s intelligence services

The report also said Egypt is preparing to hold a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza in the second half of November.

In Gaza, the bodies of thousands of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes remain trapped under the rubble. Without heavy machinery, however, rescue efforts are stalled. DW accompanied a grieving father on his mission to retrieve the remains of his wife and children.

Israel’s Supreme Court gave the government 30 days to present its position in regards to foreign journalists entering the Gaza Strip.

This comes in light of the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel has prevented reporters from entering the enclave since the war with Hamas started on October 7, 2023, resulting in Palestinian journalists being the only ones on the ground.

Some 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire in the past two years, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich apologized for saying Saudi Arabia should “keep on riding camels in the desert” if they make normalization with Israel dependent on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“My quote was certainly unfortunate and I apologize for the insult it caused,” Smotrich posted on his X account.

The far-right Israeli politician also added that he “expects the Saudis not to hurt us and not deny the heritage, tradition and rights of the Jewish people” in the occupied West Bank.

The ultranationalist minister has long called for Israel to annex the Palestinian territory and has worked to expand Israeli settlements there.

Saudi Arabia has said that the establishment of a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for the kingdom’s normalization of ties with Israel.

US Vice President JD Vance criticized a bill in Israeli parliament on annexing the occupied West Bank, adding he was personally insulted by the move.

“It was a very stupid political stunt,” he said upon his departure after a visit to Israel.

Vance added that the US’ official position is that the territory will not be annexed by Israel, and that this remains unchanged.

US President Donald Trump said Israel would lose Washington’s backing should the country go ahead with the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

“It won’t happen,” Trump told US outlet Time Magazine, saying he had given his word to Arab leaders that the territory — which is considered illegally occupied under international law — will not be annexed.

“Israel would lose all of its support from the US if that happened,” Trump added.

The US leader also described the conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that led to the latter agreeing to the ceasefire deal in Gaza.

“I told (Netanyahu): You can’t fight the world,” Trump said.

“I stopped him, because he would have just kept going,” the US president stressed.

Trump also said he plans to visit Gaza at some point.

US President Donald Trump said Israel would lose Washington’s support should it annex the West Bank in an interview.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance spoke upon his departure from Israel, saying a bill presented in Israeli parliament on annexing the occupied territory constituted “an insult.”

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