Trump urges more Gaza aid and contradicts Netanyahu on starvation

Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the widespread starvation in Gaza and urged Israel to increase humanitarian aid, contradicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that there is “no starvation” in the territory.

As Gaza faces a spiraling humanitarian crisis according to the United Nations, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that “a lot of people are starving” in the besieged territory, calling for urgent food relief and pressing Israel to do more to ensure access.

Speaking during a visit to Scotland, Trump said the U.S. and its allies would work to establish food centres in Gaza “with no fences or boundaries” to improve aid delivery. He added, “You have a lot of starving people. A lot of people can be saved.”

Trump’s remarks directly contradicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Sunday that “there is no starvation in Gaza”—a statement he reposted on social media Monday.

However, in a more cautious tone later the same day, Netanyahu acknowledged the situation in Gaza was “difficult” and that Israel would continue working with international partners to allow humanitarian aid into the strip.

“Israel will continue to work with international agencies as well as the U.S. and European nations to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid flow into the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

According to Gaza health authorities, at least 14 people died of starvation or malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the war’s hunger death toll to 147, including 88 children, most of them in recent weeks.

A White House spokesperson confirmed that details on Trump’s proposed food centres would be shared soon, but stressed the urgency of getting aid into Gaza now.

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