Rubio: Trump Opposes Any Steps to Change the Status Quo in the West Bank

SadaNews: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump opposes any steps that would change the status quo in the West Bank, warning that these actions could impact the ongoing political efforts regarding the Gaza Strip.

Rubio explained, during a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives, that the U.S. administration has clearly communicated to the Israeli side its rejection of such directions, affirming that the U.S. position on this matter is "firm and unchanged."

He pointed out that the implementation of the American plan for the post-war phase in the Gaza Strip, which includes reconstruction and economic development efforts, is linked to the existence of stable security arrangements, noting that the next phase will involve working on deploying an international force to help achieve stability and prevent the renewal of war.

In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements regarding the control of large parts of the Gaza Strip, Rubio confirmed that the American plan does not include such a scenario.

Regarding the West Bank, Rubio considered that the escalation of settlement activity and violence by settlers could hinder opportunities for reaching future understandings, asserting that the Trump administration does not support any unilateral changes that would alter the status quo, warning that such steps "could complicate reaching an agreement on the Gaza Strip."