Trump Rejects Claims of Rebuke Toward Netanyahu, Says U.S. ‘Looking Into’ Gaza Ceasefire Strike

President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed reports that he had rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s killing of Hamas #2 commander Raed Saad in Gaza last week, saying the United States maintains a strong relationship with Israel even as it reviews whether the strike violated a ceasefire agreement.

Responding to a reporter’s question in the Oval Office, Trump said, “No, Israel and I have gotten along very well. My relationship with Bibi Netanyahu has been obviously a very good one.” He added that while the U.S. is examining the circumstances of the strike, no conclusions have yet been reached. “Violation of the ceasefire—we’re going to have to see. We’re looking into that,” he said.

Trump’s comments followed reports, including an Axios article published yesterday, that the White House had privately expressed displeasure to Netanyahu over the strike, describing it as a possible breach of the Gaza ceasefire brokered by Trump. 

Turning to Syria, Trump was asked whether he still had confidence in the country’s new leader, President Ahmad al-Sharaa, following deadly attacks in areas where U.S. troops are deployed. “I do,” Trump said. “This had nothing to do with him.” He described the incident as taking place in a region outside the Syrian government’s effective control and said al-Sharaa “feels very badly about it” and is working to stabilize the situation. Trump attributed the violence to ISIS and said those responsible “will be hit hard.”

Addressing why U.S. forces remain in Syria, Trump said their presence is tied to broader efforts to preserve regional stability. “Because we’re trying to make sure that there’s going to be and remain peace in the Middle East, and Syria is a big part of it,” he said. Describing al-Sharaa as “a strong person,” Trump argued that firm leadership was essential in what he called “a rough part of the world.”

Trump said recent developments had fundamentally reshaped the region. He credited U.S. action against Iran and the removal of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as pivotal steps that cleared obstacles to peace. “We have legitimate peace in the Middle East, first time in 3,000 years,” Trump said, claiming that 59 countries now back the emerging regional framework.

The president also addressed the situation in Gaza, saying an international stabilization force is already operating and continues to expand. “It’s already running in a very strong form,” Trump said, adding that more countries are joining and are prepared to deploy troops if requested. “They want to see peace,” he said.

Trump said some countries are prepared to disarm Hamas directly, while noting that Hamas itself has claimed it will give up its weapons. “We’re going to find out whether or not that’s true,” he said. He added that Hezbollah in Lebanon remains a major unresolved challenge, saying it continues to block wider peace efforts.