Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, defended Israeli strikes on Gaza following a ceasefire, confirming that U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed no concerns over the actions.

Netanyahu’s remarks came after a series of airstrikes, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials.

The two leaders met on Monday, 29 December, during Netanyahu's official visit to the United States.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that he and Trump were in full agreement regarding Hamas.

"We saw eye to eye. He was, he cut right to the chase. He said, 'look. Skip all this press stuff. The real thing is you've got to get Hamas to disarm.' He just banged the nail on the head,” Netanyahu said.

Despite the civilian casualties, Netanyahu affirmed that Trump had shown understanding of Israel’s position.

"Not from the president, I have to tell you. I think he understands. Look, we're attacked. These terrorists try to kill us. Unfortunately, sometimes kill our soldiers. What would you do?" Netanyahu asked.

The prime minister also emphasized the importance of disarming Hamas, making it clear that peace in Gaza could only be achieved by neutralizing the militant group.

“If we disarm Hamas, whether with an international force or by any other means, yes, I see a different future for Gaza,” he stated.

Netanyahu also addressed concerns over Iran’s military activities, particularly its ballistic missile drills aimed at Israel. He issued a direct warning to Tehran: "If you dare do that, you know, the results would be devastating."

He reiterated Israel’s position on not seeking escalation but warned that any aggression from Iran would have serious consequences.

While Israel does not seek escalation, Netanyahu stated that if Iran escalates, the situation would change dramatically. "All bets are off," he concluded.

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