NEW YORK; U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday assured Muslim leaders that he would use American influence to halt the ongoing Gaza conflict and promised that Washington would not allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank.
The assurance came during the Arab-Islamic Summit, co-hosted by President Trump and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
A joint communiqué issued after the talks stressed the “urgent necessity” of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, warning that the humanitarian situation had become “unbearable.”
Leaders from several Muslim-majority states told Trump that forced displacement of Palestinians was unacceptable and appealed to him to play a decisive role in ending the bloodshed. They praised his leadership and pledged their cooperation, saying U.S. intervention was critical for regional stability.
Adding to the summit’s significance, Politico, citing six people familiar with the matter, reported that President Trump gave a firm assurance to Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank.
Two individuals described him as unequivocal on the issue, while others confirmed that the U.S. team presented a white paper outlining Washington’s roadmap to end the Gaza conflict, which included the anti-annexation pledge.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister reportedly told the family of Alon Ohel, a hostage still held in Gaza, that a combined military-diplomatic effort was underway to defeat Hamas and secure the release of all captives.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with Sheikh Tamim of Qatar, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the talks included candid exchanges on global challenges, with a particular focus on Gaza’s worsening crisis. Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, stressing that durable peace in the Middle East was impossible without justice for the Palestinian people.
Observers noted that by assuring Arab leaders of restraint on West Bank annexation, Trump aimed to build trust while seeking their backing for Washington’s emerging Gaza peace plan. However, it remains unclear how Israel will respond, as its leadership continues to pursue both military operations and diplomatic engagements regarding Hamas.
The summit ended with renewed hope that U.S. mediation could lead to a breakthrough, but leaders emphasized that swift action was vital to prevent Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe from worsening.
