US President Donald Trump "wants the killing to end" in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in a Monday briefing, adding that he also wants to "negotiate a ceasefire in this region, and he wants to see all of the hostages released."
Asked whether US President Donald Trump had a message for participants at the upcoming two-state solution conference later this month, Leavitt said, "I'm not sure he has any particular message for those countries."
"I think the president’s message on this conflict in the Middle East, which has been going on for a long time and has become quite brutal - especially in Gaza - is clear: The president doesn’t like to see that. He wants the killing to end, to negotiate a ceasefire in this region, and he wants to see all of the hostages released from Gaza. That has been a top priority for this president.”
Trump enjoys 'good working relationship' with Netanyahu, White House says
When pressed on whether Trump had expressed frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following recent IDF strikes in Gaza, and how those strikes might impact ongoing negotiations, Leavitt emphasized the president’s relationship with the prime minister.
“The president enjoys a good working relationship with Netanyahu and stays in frequent communication with him,” she said.
“He was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also by the bombing of the Catholic church in Gaza. In both cases, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations."
"We saw Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervene when it came to Syria, and we saw a de-escalation there.”
Leavitt added, “As for the bombing of the Catholic church in Gaza, the prime minister put out a statement saying this was an accident and that they deeply regret it. That action followed his conversation with the president.”