Trump 'caught off guard' by Israel's actions in Gaza and Syria last week as skepticism of Netanyahu grows inside White H [View all]

Source: CNN

Trump ‘caught off guard’ by Israel’s actions in Gaza and Syria last week as skepticism of Netanyahu grows inside White House

By Kevin Liptak, CNN
3 min read
Published 5:00 PM EDT, Mon July 21, 2025

(CNN) — President Donald Trump was caught by surprise last week by Israeli actions in Gaza and Syria, and in both instances phoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “rectify” the matter, according to the White House.

That underscores what sources have said is an increasingly tense dynamic between the two leaders.

A strike last Thursday on the only Catholic Church in Gaza drew an immediate negative reaction from Trump, who phoned Netanyahu to voice his displeasure and to ensure the Israeli leader released a statement calling the strike a mistake.

Trump was similarly surprised by Israel airstrikes targeting government buildings in the Syrian capital Damascus last week at a moment his administration is working to rebuild the war-torn nation.

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/politics/trump-netanyahu-israel-gaza-syria