Donald Trump's decision to launch major strikes on Houthi rebels should be seen as a warning for Hamas about the United States' "tolerance" for delays in extending the Gaza ceasefire, according to the US president’s Middle East envoy.
At least 31 people were killed in the attacks across Yemen, in response to Houthi aggression in the Red Sea targeting international shipping operations.
It was the largest military operation ordered by Mr Trump since he returned to the Oval Office.
The Houthis had launched their attacks in revenge for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, and last week promised to resume targeting Israeli ships if the Netanyahu government did not lift its aid blockade of the war-ravaged strip.
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Hamas should take notice of the decision to hit Yemen, as negotiations on the future of the Gaza ceasefire appear to have stalled.
"What happened with the Houthis yesterday, what happened with our strike ought to inform as to where we stand with regard to terrorism and our tolerance level for terrorist actions," Mr Witkoff told CNN on Sunday morning.
"I would encourage Hamas to get much more sensible than how they have been."
Hamas condemned the strikes on the Houthis.
Talks on future of Gaza ceasefire stalled
On Friday, Hamas had proposed releasing American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four dual national hostages who had been killed in captivity in Gaza.
In exchange, Hamas demanded more Palestinian prisoners and detainees be freed from Israeli jails, along with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza-Egypt border and the lifting of the aid blockade to the strip.
Hamas also wanted immediate negotiations on phase two of the ceasefire, which would lay the groundwork for a lasting peace in Gaza.
"The Hamas proposal is a non-starter," Mr Witkoff said.
The envoy said he had spent hours at talks in the Qatari capital Doha during the week discussing a different plan.
"We had a really positive conversation there — I would describe it as game changing, but for Hamas's response," Mr Witkoff said.
"We spent a good deal of time talking about a bridge, a bridge proposal that would see the release of five live hostages, that included Edan Alexander — and also, by the way, see the release of a substantial amount of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, which would be a wonderful thing for these Palestinian families.
"And I thought the proposal was compelling."
But Mr Witkoff said Hamas had rejected the idea, putting forward their counterproposal.
"I'm not going to go into the specific details of what made it unacceptable, but it was totally unacceptable," he said.
"I think there's an opportunity for [Hamas], but the opportunity is closing fast."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions with his country's negotiators late on Saturday night.
In a statement, his office said he had "instructed the negotiating team to prepare for the continuation of the talks as per the mediators' response to the Witkoff proposal for the immediate release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages".
Hamas had rejected that proposal, prompting Israel to retaliate by blocking all aid supplies to Gaza — something Hamas has labelled a "war crime".
Despite the ceasefire still being in place, health authorities in Gaza said at least 14 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes over the weekend.
The Israel Defense Forces had claimed it had targeted "terrorists" threatening its troops and planting bombs across the strip — including fighters pretending to be journalists.
Gaza's health ministry disputed that.
Houthis act 'independently' to Iran, insists Revolutionary Guard chief
After launching the strikes against the Houthis, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to the group's chief backer Iran to stop supporting the rebels.
"If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!" he posted on his Truth Social platform.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was asked whether that meant the White House would order direct military strikes on Iran.
"All actions are always on the table with the president," he told ABC America.
"But Iran needs to hear him loud and clear — it is completely unacceptable, and it will be stopped.
"The level of support that they've been providing the Houthis, just like they have Hezbollah, just like they have the militias in Iraq, Hamas and others."
Mr Waltz said the strikes over the weekend were very different to attacks ordered by Mr Trump's predecessor.
"These were not kind of pin prick, back and forth, what ultimately proved to be feckless attacks," he said.
"This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out."
The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard hit back at the accusations from Mr Trump that Tehran was dictating the Houthis' actions and policies in the Red Sea.
"We have always declared, and today I declare as a representative of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, that the Yemenis are a free and independent nation in their own land and have an independent national policy," General Hossein Salami said.
"[The Houthis], as the representative of the Yemenis, makes its own strategic and operational decisions."
"The Islamic Republic has no role in setting the national or operational policies of any part of the resistance front."
General Salami also vowed to respond to any attacks on Iran.
"We will respond to any threat, if it becomes actual, with a tough, decisive and devastating response."
