"President Donald Trump has a good working relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and they communicate frequently. The president was surprised by the Syria strike and the attack on the church in the Gaza Strip. In both cases, he quickly called the Israeli prime minister and asked for the situation to be rectified," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on 21/7.
Leavitt was referring to the 17/7 incident where Israeli tanks shelled the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing 3 people and injuring 10, including Father Gabriel Romanelli. The church was sheltering around 600 refugees, mostly children and vulnerable individuals requiring special assistance.
Israel also conducted a "warning" attack against Syrian government forces in the southern province of Sweida last week. They also launched airstrikes on several military facilities, including the Syrian Ministry of Defense headquarters and an area near the Presidential Palace in Damascus.
"The president wants everything done peacefully, with no more deaths. He wants to see peace and has made that message very clear," Leavitt emphasized.
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A building in the Gaza Strip hit by an Israeli airstrike on 21/7. Photo: Reuters |
A building in the Gaza Strip hit by an Israeli airstrike on 21/7. Photo: Reuters
Experts suggest this statement reveals a rare disagreement between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who usually align on political and foreign policy issues, particularly regarding containing Iran's nuclear program.
Washington is pursuing two foreign policy objectives in the Middle East: ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip and supporting the new Syrian government in rebuilding after years of civil war. US officials worry that Israel's military activity is becoming a significant obstacle to these efforts.
Axios, citing 6 US officials, reports that the White House is increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu's decisions. One White House official criticized the Israeli leader for "acting like a madman, bombing everything," arguing that Netanyahu is "seriously hindering President Trump's objectives in the region."
President Trump had hoped Netanyahu's 4-day visit to Washington earlier this month would lead to a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas would release hostages, and Israel would allow a significant increase in humanitarian aid to the area.
However, Netanyahu left the US without any announced agreement. The proposed ceasefire and the release of 10 Israeli hostages per week by Hamas remain unfinished, despite being announced the previous week. Health officials in the Gaza Strip estimate that over 1,000 people have died trying to reach aid distribution points since the end of May.
Israel has also intervened militarily in southern Syria and bombed Damascus. US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, believes Israel's intervention in Syria "is creating a messy new chapter" and is "happening at a very inopportune time."
Thanh Danh (CNN, Axios, AP)
