Axios: Washington gave Netanyahu the green light for a Gaza operation and held him responsible for the day after

U.S. site Axios revealed details of the position that President Donald Trump’s administration conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the anticipated ground military operation in the Gaza Strip, saying that Washington has given Tel Aviv the green light to begin the operation while stressing that Israel must bear full responsibility for what happens afterward.

According to the report, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Netanyahu during their recent meeting that the Trump administration “does not oppose” the ground operation inside Gaza, but “understands its security necessity,” while emphasizing that the operation should be swift and time-limited to avoid broader regional repercussions.

U.S. officials confirmed that Rubio did not ask Netanyahu to halt the operation or back down, saying that the U.S. administration “will not obstruct the Israeli decision,” but clarified that it will not bear any political or humanitarian consequences of what happens “the day after,” whether regarding the hostage crisis or a worsening of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip.

According to the site, this stance reflects the Trump administration’s approach of supporting Israeli military operations while placing responsibility on Netanyahu for their management and outcomes, especially as international criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza has mounted, which have led to thousands of deaths and large waves of displacement.

The report noted that Washington sees the anticipated ground operation as a “decisive opportunity” to weaken Hamas, but at the same time is concerned that the war could become a long-term quagmire that would deepen Israel’s international isolation and threaten U.S. interests in the region.

As the Israeli military continues preparations to expand its ground assaults in Gaza City, the issue of Israeli hostages inside the Strip remains a pressure point on decision-makers in Tel Aviv, with the U.S. administration fearing that any miscalculated military escalation could endanger the hostages’ lives and complicate prospects for reaching a future exchange deal.