In a dramatic turn of events, Israel has reportedly abandoned its contentious plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, marking a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The reversal follows direct warnings from both the United States and the United Arab Emirates, two of Israel’s most influential allies. According to statements from Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, the “file is closed” on annexation, and he credited the UAE’s decisive position for the outcome. This announcement came after a high-level meeting in New York between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, as reported by multiple news outlets.
The UAE had previously drawn a clear red line, warning that annexation would severely undermine the Abraham Accords—those landmark normalization agreements that have changed the diplomatic landscape of the region. The message was straightforward: any move toward annexation could unravel years of painstaking diplomatic progress. The United States, too, took a firm stance. President Donald Trump declared on September 25, 2025, “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank... It’s not going to happen.” This public statement, delivered from the Oval Office, left little room for ambiguity and underscored the international pressure mounting on Israel to reconsider its approach.
But the story doesn’t end with the West Bank. On September 26, President Trump also told reporters, “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza,” suggesting that an agreement to end the war in Gaza and release hostages held by Hamas could soon be reached. Speaking before attending the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Trump added, “I think it’s a deal that gets the hostages back, it’s going to be a deal that ends the war.” While he offered no specific timeline or details, his optimism hinted at behind-the-scenes negotiations involving not just Israel and Hamas, but a host of regional powers.
This week, the White House circulated a new peace proposal for the Middle East to officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, and Pakistan, who had gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The proposal calls for all remaining hostages to be returned, a halt to Israeli strikes on Qatar, and a renewed dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on “peaceful coexistence.” Yet, whether Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will embrace this last point remains uncertain.
Netanyahu’s own remarks at the UN General Assembly on September 26 made headlines—and not for their conciliatory tone. He roundly rejected the idea of a Palestinian state, calling the suggestion “sheer madness” and warning it would mean “national suicide” for Israel. The speech was not only delivered to diplomats and world leaders in New York but was also broadcast over loudspeakers into Gaza as part of a public diplomacy effort. According to Netanyahu’s office, this move aimed to ensure his message reached the people of Gaza directly, though Israeli media reported that the loudspeakers had been set up inside Gaza itself, sparking opposition from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). One senior officer reportedly called the order an “insane idea,” and others described it as psychological warfare, according to Haaretz.
The ongoing war in Gaza, which began after a Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, has left a devastating toll. The attack killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. As of late September 2025, around 48 hostages remain in captivity, with only 20 believed to be alive. Israel’s military campaign in response has left much of Gaza in ruins and, according to health officials in the Gaza Strip, has killed more than 65,000 people. The humanitarian crisis has drawn global condemnation and prompted urgent calls for a ceasefire.
A recent UK-led medical study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that injuries sustained by Palestinians in Gaza are among the worst seen in modern conflicts. The survey of 78 humanitarian health workers, most from Europe and North America, cataloged over 23,700 trauma injuries and nearly 7,000 weapon-related wounds between August 2024 and February 2025. Lead author and British surgeon Omar El-Taji described the injuries as “the worst they’ve ever seen,” with a disproportionately high number of cases involving severe burns, particularly among children. The study also highlighted widespread malnutrition and dehydration amid UN-declared famine conditions, painting a grim picture of life for civilians caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, international efforts to address the crisis continue. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is reportedly seeking a senior role in a post-war Gaza transitional authority, as part of a US peace plan. According to the Financial Times, Blair’s name has been floated as a possible chair of the “Gaza International Transitional Authority,” a body that would oversee reconstruction and governance in the territory. Blair’s experience as the former Middle East envoy for the so-called Quartet—comprising the United States, European Union, United Nations, and Russia—positions him as a potentially influential mediator.
Technology companies, too, are feeling the impact of the conflict. Microsoft recently limited some of its services to an Israeli military unit after discovering that its artificial intelligence and cloud computing products were being used for mass surveillance of Palestinians. The company’s Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith, explained that an internal review found violations of Microsoft’s terms of service. While Microsoft maintains that its products were not used to target or harm civilians, the move underscores the ethical dilemmas faced by global corporations operating in conflict zones. An Israeli security official told Associated Press that Microsoft’s decision would cause “no damage to the operational capabilities” of the IDF.
The diplomatic landscape remains fraught. The UK, France, and Germany are set to impose sweeping UN sanctions on Iran after a resolution backed by China and Russia to postpone the measures failed at the Security Council. The Western countries, known as the E3, argue that Iran is not complying with the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, citing concerns over uranium enrichment. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the sanctions as “unfair, unjust and illegal,” while Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy accused the US and Europe of “clumsy blackmail.”
Back at the UN, UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy delivered a forceful speech condemning the situation in Gaza. “What is happening in Gaza is indefensible, it is inhumane, it is utterly unjustifiable and it must end now,” Lammy declared, adding that the UK “proudly” recognized Palestinian statehood. Lammy’s remarks reflect growing international frustration with the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a diplomatic breakthrough.
As leaders from across the globe converge on New York for the annual General Assembly, the stakes could hardly be higher. The abandonment of West Bank annexation, renewed hopes for a Gaza ceasefire, and mounting international pressure for a two-state solution have set the stage for a pivotal moment in the region’s history. Whether these developments will translate into lasting peace or simply mark the latest chapter in a long and tumultuous saga remains to be seen.