Trump Confirms: US Investigating Whether Israel Breached Gaza Ceasefire with Hamas Terrorist Killing

Investigating the Elimination of Hamas’s Second-in-Command

Speaking to reporters on Monday, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the US is examining the circumstances surrounding the elimination of Ra’ad Sa’ad, the second-in-command of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza. The senior commander, who was also one of the architects of the October 7 terror attack, was killed in an Israeli Air Force strike in western Gaza City over the weekend.

According to reports, Sa'ad had spent a long period in the terrorist group's tunnel system but was struck by more than one missile while traveling in a vehicle near Al-Nabulsi Square, along with his bodyguards. The strike, which killed at least four people in total, was claimed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Trump's statement that the US is "looking into" whether Israel's action constituted a breach of the Gaza ceasefire comes amid a period of increasing friction between the Trump administration and the Israeli government regarding the next phase of the peace agreement and broader regional policies.

Disagreement Behind the Scenes

Despite the President's public comments, behind-the-scenes reports indicate that the White House sent a sharp private message to Prime Minister Netanyahu following the strike. US officials revealed that the angry message reflected growing dissatisfaction among top administration figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and presidential advisor Jared Kushner, over Netanyahu’s approach and decision-making.

A senior US official was quoted as warning Netanyahu that violating the agreement would damage both the Prime Minister’s own standing and President Trump’s reputation, who had personally brokered the ceasefire. While an Israeli official confirmed that the White House was displeased, they insisted the message was less severe and related primarily to how certain Arab states viewed the targeted killing of the terrorist.

Trump Maintains Personal Relationship is Strong

In his public remarks, President Trump pushed back against the reports of tension with Netanyahu, stating, "My relationship with Bibi is very good. We took Iran out of the game, and because of that we can make peace. We have a good relationship with everyone in the Middle East."

Trump’s comments, suggesting a stable personal and geopolitical relationship, stand in contrast to the alleged diplomatic pressure exerted by his administration in private. The President also spoke briefly about the multinational stabilization force intended for Gaza, saying the force is "already working in the sense of its composition, and it will get stronger, and more countries are sending and will send any number I ask them to."

The political and security disagreements, highlighted by the US review of the Sa'ad elimination, are expected to be a central topic when Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 29.