U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern on Wednesday that the Israeli Knesset’s recent moves toward annexing parts of the West Bank could jeopardize President Donald Trump’s plan to resolve the Gaza conflict. Rubio’s comments highlight the tension between efforts to create peace in the region and actions taken by Israel’s right-wing lawmakers.

In a significant development, right-wing members of the Knesset advanced two annexation bills—one aimed at applying Israeli sovereignty to all settlements in the West Bank, and another focused on a key city-settlement in the area. These bills passed their preliminary readings, despite opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many members of his Likud party, who argued that the timing of such moves was premature.

Rubio’s remarks underscore the delicate balance the U.S. is trying to maintain as it works toward a peace agreement in Gaza, with the annexation plans complicating efforts to move forward with negotiations. The conflict between Israel’s sovereignty claims and the international push for peace continues to shape the region’s future, with significant implications for U.S. foreign policy and stability in the Middle East.