Overview
- U.S. officials delivered a stern private message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel killed senior Hamas figure Raed Saad in Gaza City over the weekend.
- The White House considers the operation a violation of the Gaza ceasefire negotiated by President Trump and says Israel did not notify or consult Washington in advance.
- President Trump told reporters the administration is looking into whether the strike breached the agreement, while insisting his relationship with Netanyahu is very good.
- An Israeli official argued Hamas had already violated the truce by attacking soldiers and resuming weapons smuggling, saying the strike aimed to preserve the ceasefire.
- Senior U.S. figures, including Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are described as increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu, with a December 29 Mar-a-Lago meeting expected to address the dispute and broader regional concerns.