Middle East conflict

20 Mar, 16:16Updated at: 20:14

Trump fully supports Israel’s current military operation in Gaza — White House

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that previously Donald Trump threatened Palestine’s radical movement Hamas with tough measures if Israeli hostages are not released

WASHINGTON, March 20. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump fully supports Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has told reporters.

The spokeswoman said that previously Trump threatened Palestine’s radical movement Hamas with tough measures if Israeli hostages are not released.

"Unfortunately, Hamas chose to play games in the media with lives. This situation, let's not forget, is completely the fault of Hamas when they launched that brutal attack on Israel on October 7, and the President has made it very clear that he wants all of those hostages to come home, and he fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions that they taken in recent days," Leavitt said.

Previously, the Israel Defense Forces announced that it had resumed its ground operation in the Gaza Strip and regained control over the Netzarim corridor in the central part of the enclave. The Jewish state’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Palestinians must return all Israeli hostages and expel Hamas from the Gaza Strip, otherwise Israel will "totally destroy" the enclave.

On March 18, Israeli forces delivered a series of mass strikes on the Gaza Strip. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the operation to Hamas’ refusal to accept proposals put forward by mediators and US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff.

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Unidentified gunmen open fire on Iraqi consulate in Istanbul — Foreign Ministry

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