Trump to Time: Israel Will Lose All US Support If It Annexes the West Bank

In a phone interview with Time magazine, US President Donald Trump detailed how the Gaza ceasefire materialized and outlined his vision for the region's future.

Warning Israel on the West Bank

Trump emphasized his rejection of Israel annexing the West Bank, stating: "It's not going to happen. It's not going to happen." Trump attributed this stance to a promise he made to Arab nations:

"It’s not going to happen because I promised the Arab countries. It’s not going to happen. Israel will lose all United States support if that happens."

Gaza Ceasefire and Netanyahu's Role

• Fate of Hamas: Asked whether Hamas could face "total annihilation" if it failed to comply with the agreement, Trump said: "Absolutely. Yes, they are going to have a big problem. A very big problem."

• Disarming Hamas: Trump clarified that it requires "intervening" if Hamas does not comply, noting that they had agreed to disarm.

• Stopping Netanyahu: Trump claimed he was the one who stopped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from continuing the war, which "could have gone on for years." He called Netanyahu's tactical mistake regarding Qatar "fatal," but one that ultimately pushed everyone toward the agreement. Trump added: "He (Netanyahu) had to stop because the world was going to stop him."

• Visiting Gaza: Trump revealed his plan to visit the Gaza Strip, saying: "I will, yeah, I will."

Trump's Vision for the Region's Future

• Post-War Gaza Authority: Asked if he sees President Abbas as the governing authority in post-war Gaza, Trump replied that he "always got along with him" and found him "rational," but said it was "too early to have an opinion."

• Marwan Barghouti: Regarding calls for the release of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Trump said he "will make a decision" on the matter.

• Abraham Accords and Saudi Arabia: Trump expressed his belief that a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel is "very close," predicting that "Saudi Arabia will lead the way on the Abraham Accords," and that he believes Saudi Arabia will join the accords by the end of the year.