U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cautioned that Israel’s latest parliamentary move toward annexing the occupied West Bank could jeopardise President Donald Trump’s fragile plan to end the Gaza war and stabilise the region.
Speaking to reporters late Wednesday before departing Washington for Israel, Rubio said the administration viewed the Knesset vote with concern.
“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 said.
On Wednesday, Israeli lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a bill applying Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, a move widely seen as a step toward formal annexation of territory Palestinians claim for a future state.
Netanyahu’s Likud party abstained from supporting the bill, which was introduced by legislators outside his ruling coalition. His government has faced growing pressure from far-right partners calling for annexation in response to several Western nations formally recognising a Palestinian state.
Trump last month reiterated that Washington “would not allow Israel to annex territory it took in the 1967 Middle East war,” saying such a move would undermine his efforts to secure lasting peace in Gaza.
Despite ongoing diplomatic engagement, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains unstable. Residents of Khan Younis in southern Gaza and areas east of Gaza City reported heavy gunfire and tank shelling overnight.
“Gunfire and explosions almost didn’t stop until the morning,” said Mohammad Abu Mansour, a farmer in central Gaza. “My three children woke up asking if the war had started again. When is this going to end?”
Under the truce’s initial phase, Israel has released Palestinian prisoners and retrieved the remains of some hostages, while Hamas has freed several captives. Both sides, however, continue to trade accusations of ceasefire violations.
Roughly 700,000 Jewish settlers currently live in West Bank settlements deemed illegal by most of the international community, including the United Nations. Israel disputes that view, citing historical and biblical ties to the land.
Rubio’s visit follows Vance’s meetings with top Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The Secretary of State is expected to press for continued adherence to Trump’s ceasefire terms while urging restraint on the West Bank legislation.
The U.S. State Department said Rubio’s mission was to “support implementation of President Trump’s Gaza peace framework and reinforce U.S. commitment to reconstruction, security, and governance reforms.”
Africa Digital News, New York
