US President Donald Trump said on Monday that many people were starving in Gaza and suggested Israel could do more to improve humanitarian access, as Palestinians struggled to feed their children following Israeli announcements about easing supply restrictions.
With the death toll from over two years of conflict in Gaza nearing 60,000, Gaza health authorities report an increasing number of deaths due to starvation and malnutrition. Images of starving children have sparked global outrage and intensified international criticism of Israel amid sharply worsening conditions.
Trump’s recognition of the starvation crisis contrasted with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim on Sunday that “there is no starvation in Gaza,” a statement Netanyahu reiterated on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. However, Netanyahu later acknowledged the situation in Gaza as “difficult” and affirmed efforts to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the blockaded territory.
“Israel will continue to work with international agencies as well as the US and European nations to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid flows into the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Speaking during a visit to Scotland, Trump said Israel holds significant responsibility for aid flows and asserted that many lives could be saved. “You have a lot of starving people,” he said.
Trump pledged, “We’re going to set up food centres,” with no fences or barriers to ease access. He added that the US would collaborate with other countries to provide more humanitarian assistance, including food and sanitation.
A White House spokesperson indicated that further details on the food centres would be “forthcoming.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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