President Donald Trump asserted on Thursday that he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank, declaring, “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope. I will not allow it. It’s not gonna happen.” Trump emphasized his stance regardless of discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”

During a meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders earlier in the week, Trump reiterated his commitment to preventing Israel from absorbing the West Bank, which is administered by the Palestinian Authority. Sources familiar with the conversation noted that Trump’s position was firm, though a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas remained unresolved. A proposed plan outlined by Trump’s team included measures for postwar governance and security, though specifics about the West Bank were not detailed.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu faced logistical challenges during his trip to the U.N. General Assembly. His aircraft avoided French airspace amid concerns over an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to alleged war crimes. Flight data revealed the prime minister’s route skirted European territories with ICC agreements, opting instead for a path through Greek and Italian skies before crossing the Atlantic. The Israeli government did not publicly explain the routing.