Washington: US President Donald Trump was “caught off guard” by Israel’s recent military actions in Syria and Gaza, including an air strike on a Catholic church, the White House said. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt informed reporters on Monday that Trump immediately reached out to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in both instances to address the situation.
According to TRTworld.com, “The president was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of the Catholic Church in Gaza,” Leavitt commented. She added that Trump wants the killing to end, negotiate a ceasefire in the region, and see all hostages released from Gaza. These comments represent a rare public expression of Trump’s discomfort over Israel’s actions, as he has consistently positioned himself as a staunch ally of the nation.
Israel has faced growing international criticism in recent weeks over its aggression in Syria and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. The situation in Gaza has been described as a genocide since October 2023, with nearly 59,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, reportedly killed. An estimated 11,000 Palestinians are feared buried under the rubble of destroyed homes, as per Palestine’s official WAFA news agency. However, experts suggest that the actual death toll could be significantly higher, possibly around 200,000.
Washington allocates $3.8 billion in annual military funding to its long-standing ally Israel. Since October 2023, the US has spent more than $22 billion supporting Israel’s operations in Gaza and wars in neighboring countries. Despite criticism from senior US officials regarding the high civilian death toll in Gaza, Washington has so far resisted calls to place conditions on arms transfers.
In a significant development, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. They are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice over its military campaign in the enclave.