Tel Aviv/Washington, October 23, 2025: The United States has warned that any move by Israel’s parliament toward annexing the occupied West Bank would jeopardize Washington’s ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking before his departure for Israel on Thursday, said the Trump administration could not support such a step. “That’s not something we can be supportive of right now,” Rubio told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport, calling the annexation drive “counterproductive” and “threatening” to the fragile ceasefire.
Rubio’s remarks came after Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, gave preliminary approval to a controversial bill granting Israel authority to annex the West Bank — a symbolic move pushed by far-right lawmakers outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The measure narrowly passed by 25 votes to 24, and must clear three further readings and committee scrutiny before becoming law.
At the end of his own visit to Israel, US Vice-President JD Vance denounced the move as “a very stupid political stunt,” saying it undermined delicate diplomatic efforts. “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy,” he said.
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the Knesset’s action, reiterating that Israel “has no sovereignty over Palestinian land.” Palestinians claim the West Bank — occupied by Israel since 1967 — as part of a future independent state.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled last year that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories was illegal under international law. Israel, however, has continued to expand settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, now home to some 700,000 Israelis living alongside 3.3 million Palestinians.
Rubio’s visit follows those of Vance and two US special envoys, as Washington presses for progress on the second phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. The first phase — involving a ceasefire, partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid — took effect earlier this month, though both sides have accused each other of violating it.
The second phase envisions an interim government in Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilization force, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Despite ongoing tensions, Rubio expressed cautious optimism: “Every day there’ll be threats to it, but I think we’re ahead of schedule in bringing it together. The fact that we made it through this weekend is a good sign.”
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. Since then, over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, figures broadly cited by the United Nations.
