US President Donald Trump has pledged to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank, countering Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN speech where he rejected the idea of a Palestinian state, accusing European leaders of incentivizing violence against Jews. Netanyahu, delivering a defiant address amid tensions, vowed to continue combating Hamas, while Trump expressed confidence in brokering a ceasefire deal. Days after Western nations recognized Palestine, Netanyahu criticized the move as rewarding terrorism and asserted Israel’s refusal to accept a terrorist state. Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas, a Hamas rival, denounced the attack and antisemitism in a virtual address following a US visa denial. Netanyahu, a longstanding opponent of Palestinian statehood, criticized Western support for Abbas and labeled the Palestinian Authority as deeply corrupt. Despite threats from some members of his cabinet, Netanyahu did not touch on the contentious issue of West Bank annexation, a move Trump explicitly opposed, emphasizing that it would not happen. Trump, a key ally of Netanyahu, expressed hope for resolving the conflict and praised ongoing efforts towards peace. Arab and Muslim leaders cautioned Trump against annexation during their UN meetings, stressing the potential risks. Amid an ICC arrest warrant over war crimes, Netanyahu faced protests during his UN speech and defended Israeli military actions against Iran-backed groups across the region. Netanyahu refuted allegations of genocide in Gaza, highlighting Israel’s efforts to warn civilians and dismissing UN claims of deliberate aid restrictions. A Palestinian official criticized Netanyahu’s speech as deceitful, while the UN updated its database of companies operating in Israeli settlements, condemning the settlements as a war crime. The database listed 158 companies from various countries involved in settlement activities, with major corporations like Airbnb and Booking.com still included. Since October 7, 2023, the conflict has resulted in over 65,500 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, according to health ministry data in Gaza endorsed by the UN.
