U.S. Rebukes Israel Over Gaza Assassination - Warns It Jeopardizes Ceasefire and Phase Two Talks

The United States has sharply criticized Israel following the targeted killing of senior Hamas official Raad Saad on Saturday, warning that the operation constituted a violation of the ceasefire agreement and could complicate efforts to advance to Phase Two of the plan to end the war in Gaza, according to senior U.S. officials.

The issue is expected to feature prominently in the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for December 29 at Mar-a-Lago.

White House: Assassination Undermines Ceasefire

According to two senior American officials, the White House conveyed strong and unusually direct messages to Netanyahu over the past two days, emphasizing that the assassination of Saad—considered Hamas’s second-in-command and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre—was inconsistent with the ceasefire framework reached under U.S. mediation.

The strike was carried out on Saturday at 2:49 p.m., based on intelligence guidance. U.S. officials said Washington was notified only at 3:09 p.m., after the operation had already taken place—contrary to coordination norms established between Jerusalem and Washington during the ceasefire.

“This was a calculated risk taken by Israel, fully aware it would anger the United States,” one U.S. official said.

‘You Will Not Ruin Trump’s Achievement’

One senior American official described the White House’s message to Netanyahu in unusually blunt terms:

“If you want to ruin your reputation and show that you are not complying with agreements—go ahead. But we will not allow you to ruin President Trump’s reputation after he succeeded in reaching the Gaza agreement.”

U.S. officials stressed that the strike makes it more difficult to transition to Phase Two, which includes additional Israeli withdrawals and is central to Washington’s diplomatic roadmap.

An Israeli official confirmed that the White House was displeased with the attack, but said U.S. concerns were framed in part around reactions from key Arab states, which view the assassination as a breach of the ceasefire.

A political source in Jerusalem nonetheless claimed that “there is close coordination between Israel and the United States.”

Growing Frustration With Netanyahu

The Gaza incident comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and the Netanyahu government over Israel’s regional policies.

According to U.S. officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president’s adviser and son-in-law, are increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu’s decision-making and strategic judgment.

President Trump himself reportedly told Netanyahu in a recent phone call that he needs to be a “better partner” in Gaza.

U.S. Concerns Extend Beyond Gaza

Syria: ‘Destabilizing Actions’

In Syria, the Trump administration believes Israeli actions are destabilizing the country and undermining U.S. efforts to support the Sharia government and advance a new security arrangement between Syria and Israel.
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack met Netanyahu on Monday to discuss the issue.

West Bank: Alarm Over Settler Violence

The White House is also increasingly concerned about settler violence against Palestinians, as well as Israeli government decisions that U.S. officials believe could weaken the Palestinian Authority and trigger a wider escalation in the West Bank.

A senior U.S. official warned that these dynamics threaten regional stability and U.S. strategic interests.

Abraham Accords at Risk

U.S. officials say Israel’s current approach is creating an atmosphere that complicates efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, particularly with Saudi Arabia.

“We are not asking Netanyahu to compromise on Israel’s security,” a senior U.S. official said. “We are asking him not to take steps that are perceived in the Arab world as provocations.”

Looking Ahead

With Netanyahu’s meeting with President Trump looming, the assassination of Raad Saad has become a flashpoint in U.S.-Israel relations—highlighting diverging views on ceasefire compliance, regional stability, and the path forward in Gaza.

Whether the dispute will derail progress toward Phase Two of the agreement, or be contained through renewed coordination, is likely to become clear in the days following the Mar-a-Lago talks.