An Israeli strike last week hit a Catholic church in Gaza, and also bombarded Syria during sectarian violence there. The comments were a rare suggestion of daylight between Trump and Netanyahu.

Israel said the strikes were intended to protect the Druze, a small but politically sensitive minority in Syria with ties to Israel and Lebanon. But the surprise move has raised questions inside the White House as Trump tries to broker an end to the Gaza war.

"If Israel feels that a certain leader...is an evident threat to its national security, it will operate," a former Israeli envoy told Newsweek.