US Slams Israel Over West Bank Annexation as Gaza Peace Deal Falls Apart

Jerusalem: The fragile Gaza peace deal brokered under the Trump administration faces a serious challenge as Israel moves ahead with policies undermining stability, prompting US Vice President JD Vance to openly criticise a Knesset vote on West Bank annexation. The development highlights the limits of American influence and the unraveling of a deal long touted as a path to peace.

Hard-liners in Israel’s parliament narrowly passed a symbolic preliminary vote in favour of annexation, 25-24, exposing deep fractures within Netanyahu’s coalition and the growing influence of extremist factions. While Netanyahu opposes annexation and has tools to block it, the very occurrence of the vote signals a disregard for both international norms and the commitments underpinning the US-backed peace framework.

Speaking at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, Vance called the vote “a very stupid political stunt” and said, “I personally take some insult to it. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.” The public rebuke underscores the US predicament: years of political investment in the peace deal are being undermined, and American leverage appears increasingly limited.

Netanyahu faces internal divisions and the risk of early elections. While some coalition members initially supported annexation, pressure from the US and Gulf allies, including the UAE, which warned that annexation would be a “red line,” has restrained formal backing. Yet the broader message is clear: the Trump-era deal has not curbed aggressive policies or extremist ambitions.

Gaza Reconstruction and Humanitarian Crisis

Vance outlined US plans to rebuild Gaza in “Hamas- free” areas but acknowledged that reconstruction will take years. The war left 61 million tonnes of debris and killed at least 68,280 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. A civilian military coordination centre in southern Israel now sees US troops working with Israeli forces and international delegations, but these efforts are overshadowed by continued Israeli aggression.

The humanitarian situation remains dire. The World Health Organisation evacuated 41 critical patients, while 15,000 still await medical approval. Israel’s Supreme Court is considering international media access to Gaza, highlighting ongoing restrictions on reporting and information flow.

The unfolding crisis suggests a stark reality: the Trump-brokered peace deal has failed to restrain Israeli extremism, and the US itself is now publicly confronting its closest ally, revealing the fragility of Washington’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.