In a recent statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that former U.S. President Donald Trump “fully supports” Israeli military operations in Gaza, attributing the ongoing violence to Hamas. Leavitt emphasized that Trump backs the actions taken by Israel and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in recent days, despite inquiries about efforts to revive a ceasefire in the region.
This week, Israel intensified its airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 500 individuals, including 200 children, while more than 900 Palestinians sustained serious injuries. On Thursday, the Israeli military confirmed the targeted killing of the head of Hamas’s internal security agency during an airstrike in the Gaza Strip, marking another significant development in the ongoing conflict.
In retaliation, Hamas launched rockets toward Tel Aviv, marking its first military response to the rising civilian casualties from Israel’s resumed air and ground operations. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, condemning what it described as Israel’s “massacres” of civilians in Gaza.
The Israeli army reported intercepting one of the projectiles, while two others landed in uninhabited areas, highlighting the ongoing tension in the region.
During a UN Security Council meeting, U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea stated that Hamas “bears the sole responsibility for the war and the resumption of hostilities” in Gaza. She echoed Trump’s stance, insisting that Hamas must release all hostages immediately or face severe consequences. Shea remarked, “Fighting could end tomorrow, but the group has repeatedly refused to accept proposals to extend the ceasefire,” labeling Hamas a “savage terrorist organization” responsible for the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
As the violence escalates, Israel has continued its bombardment of Gaza, issuing what it termed a “last warning” for Palestinians to return hostages and dismantle Hamas’s authority. Following Israel’s advisory for civilians to evacuate areas designated as “combat zones,” families with young children have been seen fleeing northern Gaza.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz addressed the residents of Gaza, urging compliance in a video message: “This is the last warning. Take the advice of the president of the United States. Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you—including the possibility of relocating to other parts of the world for those who wish to.”
