Trump says U.S. will help Gazans access food as Israel maintains aid blockade

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States would assist civilians in Gaza in obtaining food, as Israel’s aid blockade on the territory enters its 64th day.

“We’re going to help them get some food. A lot of people are making it very, very bad,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Hamas is making it impossible, because they’re taking everything that’s brought in, but we’re going to help the people of Gaza, because they’re being treated very badly by Hamas.”

Trump’s remarks come amid intensifying international concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the prolonged closure of border crossings has deepened the crisis. Since March 2, Israel has blocked the entry of essential supplies including food, water, fuel, and medicine, despite mounting reports of famine and severe malnutrition across the enclave. Last week, the director of Gaza’s government media office, Ismail Thawabteh, said the territory had entered “an advanced stage of famine” as a result of the ongoing blockade and renewed Israeli military operations.

On Sunday, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a new humanitarian aid delivery plan involving private U.S. security contractors who would hand-deliver aid boxes to individuals inside Gaza. According to media reports, the plan was supported by all Cabinet members except National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Though no official implementation date has been announced, The Washington Post reported the plan could begin before the end of the month, potentially aligning with President Trump’s planned mid-May visit to the region.

The proposed aid mechanism has faced swift rejection from the United Nations and dozens of international humanitarian organizations. The UN Humanitarian Country Team in Gaza stated that it “can only support plans that respect the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality.” Critics argue that the Israeli plan is logistically unfeasible, could expose civilians and aid workers to danger, and violates the core tenets of humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, Gaza continues to endure the effects of Israel’s extensive military offensive, launched in response to a Hamas cross-border attack in October 2023 that left over 1,000 Israelis dead. Since then, more than 52,500 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have reportedly been killed in Gaza. The enclave, already suffering from years of blockade and infrastructure collapse, has seen entire neighborhoods destroyed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

International legal pressure on Israel has intensified in recent months. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. Separately, the International Court of Justice is hearing a genocide case filed against Israel in connection with its actions in the enclave.

Trump’s pledge to facilitate food aid marks a notable shift in U.S. engagement with the humanitarian dimensions of the Gaza conflict. However, it remains unclear how the proposed delivery mechanism will be executed or whether it will be accepted by the broader humanitarian community. As famine fears grow and political tensions rise, the urgency for an effective, coordinated relief effort continues to mount.

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