One of the incidents involved a strike on the only Catholic Church in Gaza, which prompted an immediate reaction from Trump. He requested Netanyahu to publicly acknowledge the attack as a mistake. The second event involved Israeli airstrikes on government buildings in Damascus, Syria, at a time when the Trump administration is focused on helping rebuild the war-torn country.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that while Trump maintains a working relationship with Netanyahu, he was not informed beforehand about either of these operations. "In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations," she said.
Leavitt also pointed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's ongoing efforts to reduce tensions in Syria, where Trump has supported easing sanctions and backed the country's new president, former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Strained Yet Strategic Relationship
Although the two leaders have long been considered allies, their relationship has often been described as uneasy. Despite recent shows of support — including Netanyahu's dramatic gesture nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize during a White House dinner — personal closeness remains lacking, according to those familiar with their interactions.
Trump had hoped Netanyahu's visit to Washington earlier this month would lead to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, along with the release of hostages and expanded humanitarian aid. Before the meeting, Trump stated he expected a ceasefire within the week. However, Netanyahu left the U.S. without an agreement being finalised.
Now, even after a proposal was submitted to Hamas, negotiations remain at a standstill. Hamas confirmed they are working around the clock to reach a deal but have yet to respond to the latest plan.
Mounting Concern Over Gaza Conflict
Trump is increasingly alarmed by the rising death toll in Gaza, especially following the church bombing that killed three people. "The president's message on this conflict... is that he wants the killing to end," Leavitt said. She emphasised that the administration has been proactive in pushing humanitarian aid into Gaza, despite international criticism of Israel for delivering aid in limited amounts. The health ministry in Gaza reported that over 1,000 people have died while attempting to access aid since late May.
Leavitt defended the administration's actions, stating, "The president is the reason that aid is even being distributed in Gaza at all. He wants this done peacefully."
She added that Trump inherited a complex situation and has been focused on restoring stability. "The president wants to see peace, and he's been pretty clear on that," she concluded.
