US President Donald Trump has pledged to prevent Israel from annexing the occupied West Bank, unveiling a 21-point initiative aimed at ending the war on Gaza and reshaping the region’s postwar order.
The closed-door meeting, held Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, brought together senior officials from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
According to Politico, Trump told attendees he would personally block Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s annexation plans and promised to raise the issue with Netanyahu during their scheduled Thursday meeting.
Two unnamed sources cited by Politico said the Trump plan outlines post-war governance and security arrangements across the region. “We presented what we call the ‘Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Middle East.’ I believe it addresses Israeli concerns, as well as those of all regional neighbors,” confirmed US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff said a breakthrough in Gaza could be announced within days, though he offered no details on the West Bank or the specifics of the peace plan.
Arab League Ambassador to the UN Majed Abdel Fattah said participants also explored practical steps for post-war Gaza, including the training of 10,000 Palestinian Authority police officers in Egypt, Indonesia, and Jordan to assume control of the enclave.
He added that discussions included a temporary stabilization force, initially stationed along the Egypt-Israel border, which could eventually deploy into Gaza in coordination with Tel Aviv and Washington. That force would be activated as part of a phased withdrawal of Hamas and Israeli troops.
Meanwhile, unnamed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that a temporary ceasefire in Gaza could be finalized within 10 days, paving the way for broader negotiations.
But ahead of his US visit, Netanyahu doubled down on his war strategy, vowing to highlight “the great opportunities created by Israel’s military victories” and the “necessity of completing the goals of the war.”
In Gaza City, Israeli occupation forces launched a ground incursion and intensified air bombing campaign last week as part of a broader campaign to retake full control of the enclave. The offensive has displaced thousands, forcing Palestinians to flee southward under a storm of airstrikes targeting homes, tents, and escape routes.
Israel has also moved to shut the Allenby Bridge crossing, the only gateway between the West Bank and Jordan, effectively isolating the West Bank and the 3 million Palestinians who inhabit it.
Since the Israeli genocide on Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and 164,000 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel’s attacks have also triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with aid blockades causing the deaths of 435 people, including 147 children, from starvation.
