White House: Israel consulted US on its strikes in Gaza

The Trump administration was consulted by Israel on its latest deadly airstrikes in Gaza, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed. 

During Fox News’ “Hannity” show on March 17, Leavitt stated that Israeli officials sought the administration's input on the series of air attacks, which resulted in a high number of casualties, per Caliber.Az.

Palestinian medics in Gaza reported dozens of deaths in the aftermath of what has been described as the most violent airstrikes by Israel since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached on January 19, 2025. The truce, brokered after intense fighting, was shattered by the recent Israeli bombardment. A senior Hamas official claimed that Israel had unilaterally broken the ceasefire agreement.

White House spokesperson Leavitt echoed President Trump’s previous hardline stance, warning that any acts of aggression by Hamas, Iran, or the Houthis would lead to severe consequences. “As President Trump has made it clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran—those who terrorize not just Israel but also the United States—will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose,” Leavitt stated.

The violence follows an escalation that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has left over 48,000 Palestinians dead and displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, which numbers around 2.3 million. The assault has also led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread hunger and accusations of war crimes directed at Israel, which it denies.

In response to the latest developments, Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri accused the U.S. administration of complicity in the ongoing attacks. He maintained that Hamas had fully complied with the ceasefire terms and denounced Israel’s actions as an attempt to impose new terms on the people of Gaza.

Meanwhile, the United States launched a new round of airstrikes in Yemen on March 16, targeting members of the Houthi movement. The U.S. confirmed that dozens of Houthis were killed, while the Houthis reported at least 53 casualties from the attack.

By Khagan Isayev