Rubio: Israeli Annexation Move Could Undermine Trump’s Gaza Plan
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Israeli annexation could derail efforts to maintain Gaza ceasefire
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the Israeli Knesset’s move to annex parts of the occupied West Bank could undermine President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war on Gaza, as tensions grow over settlement expansion and fragile ceasefire efforts.
“I mean, that’s a vote in the Knesset, but obviously I think the president’s made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now, and we think it’s potentially threatening to the peace deal,” Rubio told reporters late Wednesday before departing for “Israel.”
The visit marks Rubio’s first trip to “Israel” as Secretary of State, following a series of US diplomatic engagements aimed at keeping the Trump administration’s 20-point Gaza plan on track.
Israeli Regime Pushes Forward With Annexation of Occupied Land
On the same day, Israel’s parliament gave preliminary approval to a bill applying Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, effectively paving the way for annexation.
A second bill seeking to annex the Maale Adumim illegal settlement near occupied al-Quds was also advanced, further escalating tensions as international mediators attempt to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza.
US Diplomacy Fails to Curb Israeli Aggression
Rubio’s visit to “Israel” follows a trip by US Vice President JD Vance, who met with Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and was expected to hold talks with Security Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer before departing.
According to the US State Department, Rubio’s visit aims to support the implementation of Trump’s plan to end the war on Gaza, which currently stands on fragile ground.
Despite internal political divisions, Israel’s illegal settlement expansion has accelerated since Netanyahu returned to power in 2022. His current coalition — described as the most right-wing in Israel’s history — has pushed aggressively for permanent control of the West Bank.
Regional States Voice Alarm Over Israeli Escalation
Senior Emirati official Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, said at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi that the Gulf state believed it had previously helped avert annexation, but concerns remain as Israel’s right-wing factions continue advancing new bills.
Separately, UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan met in Abu Dhabi with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump advisor Jared Kushner to discuss efforts to stabilize the ceasefire in Gaza and prevent further escalation.
The meeting followed visits by Witkoff and Kushner to occupied Palestine, highlighting ongoing regional efforts to balance normalization with opposition to settlement expansion and annexation in the occupied West Bank. (PW)