Trump Recognizes Policy Rift with Israel on West Bank
"We have had a discussion, big discussion, for a long time on the West Bank, and I wouldn't say we agree on the West Bank 100%, but we'll come to a conclusion," Trump stated when pressed about Israeli settler violence in the occupied territory and whether he had delivered any specific warnings to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Standing alongside Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida during a joint media briefing, Trump assured reporters that a resolution was forthcoming.
"It'll be announced at an appropriate time, but he will do the right thing," he said, gesturing toward the Israeli leader.
Palestinian authorities report a devastating toll in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 2023: at least 1,103 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and illegal settlers, nearly 11,000 wounded, and approximately 21,000 detained.
Last July, the International Court of Justice issued a groundbreaking ruling declaring Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful and demanding the removal of all settlements from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Hamas Disarmament Timeline Remains Vague
The two leaders also addressed advancing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, particularly concerning complete Israeli troop withdrawal and the disarmament of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
When questioned whether Israeli forces would pull out before Hamas surrendered all weapons, Trump indicated the group would receive only a limited window to comply, though he declined to specify exact timeframes.
"They're going to be given a very short period of time to disarm, and we'll see how that works out," he said.
Trump announced that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner would supervise implementation from Washington's end.
"It's going to be horrible for them," he warned, signaling severe repercussions if Hamas fails to meet disarmament requirements.
Despite the ceasefire taking effect in October, Israel maintains tight restrictions on Gaza's border crossings, blocking mobile housing units and reconstruction supplies from entering the territory—intensifying the humanitarian emergency impacting more than 2 million residents.
Palestinian authorities report at least 414 deaths in Gaza since the ceasefire commenced.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
