Trump May Recognize Palestinian State at Gulf Summit — Report

According to The Jerusalem Post, citing a diplomatic source from the Gulf, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce American recognition of a Palestinian state during the upcoming U.S.-Gulf summit in Riyadh, scheduled for mid-May 2025.

The source stated that the proposed Palestinian state would not include Hamas in its governing structure, reflecting Washington’s and its Gulf allies’ intent to promote a more moderate and manageable Palestinian leadership.

This possible recognition is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s long-held stance that normalization with Israel is contingent upon the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, recent reports indicate that U.S.-Saudi negotiations on civil nuclear cooperation have been decoupled from the requirement of Israeli recognition, which may facilitate progress on both fronts—nuclear and Palestinian.

If Trump moves forward with this recognition, it would mark a sharp shift from earlier controversial proposals. Earlier in 2025, Trump suggested a U.S. takeover of the Gaza Strip and the relocation of its Palestinian population—a plan widely condemned by the international community.

Details regarding the future state’s governance and borders remain unclear. However, the exclusion of Hamas points to efforts to shape a state model aligned with Western and moderate Arab interests.

More specifics are expected to be revealed during or after the upcoming summit in Riyadh.