Amid rising global concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, former President Donald Trump, in a conversation from Scotland, expressed his apprehension on Monday. He insisted that Israel needs to deliver food supplies urgently, marking a perceived adjustment in his position towards the matter. While images of malnourished children have fuelled global anxiety about food scarcity in the beleaguered region, Trump acknowledged that the United States and other international actors are contributing aid to Gaza. However, he underscored Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pivotal role, saying, ‘Netanyahu needs to oversee its delivery.’
Emphasizing his point, Trump stated, ‘It’s crucial that the children get the food they need,’ making mention of this need twice. The increased urgency in his dialogue seemed to stem from the harrowing visuals of hunger-stricken children in Gaza, a stark contrast from his somewhat resigned outlook on the protracted Israel-Hamas conflict just a week prior, after ceasefire negotiations failed to make progress. Trump’s fresh comments indicate a surprising divergence from Netanyahu, given their recent bonding over joint military operations in Iran.
When posed with a question about his stance on Netanyahu’s assertion that ‘There is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza’, Trump, in a Monday response, stated, ‘I can’t confirm that. From what I see on television, it would appear otherwise seeing the state of those children. They do seem to be suffering from hunger.’ His comments hinted that the U.S. would respond to the crisis by setting up food distribution centers in Gaza.
Reacting to growing international criticism over the weekend, the Israeli military responded by initiating aid drops and instituting brief respites in three densely populated areas in Gaza. The aim was to allow ten hours of respite every day, which could be used for distributing the aid. Earlier on Friday, Trump had voiced feelings of helplessness about the Gaza situation after the U.S. and Israel withdrew their negotiation teams from peace talks in Qatar.
Despite previous remarks indicating a more pessimistic outlook, where he implied that Israel may need to unilaterally ‘clean up’ the situation and suggested that Hamas was likely ‘going to be hunted down’, the former president seemed more inclined towards immediate action on the grim Monday. Reports and images depicting deaths due to starvation and the struggle of inhabitants, particularly young children and infants, to secure food had led to a surge in international concern and outrage.
The former U.S. president made these comments while he was visiting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf course, Trump’s Turnberry. Although he mentioned that the U.S. had plans to ‘set up food centers’ in the region, he did not delve into the specifics of this initiative. The outcry from the international community was simultaneously becoming louder and more prominent.
Even as Trump prodded Netanyahu to expedite the delivery of aid, he himself was the recipient of similar entreaties. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, in a televised address, implored Trump to use his influence to deescalate the conflict, increase the aid, and alleviate the suffering. Addressing Trump directly, el-Sissi requested that he ‘Please, make every effort to stop this war and deliver the aid’. Adding that ‘it’s time to end this war’.
Trump also criticized Hamas for intercepting and appropriating food and aid intended for the Gazan people. When a reporter questioned him regarding Israel’s role in restricting the aid flow to Gaza, he affirmed that Israel does bear ‘a lot of responsibility’. He quickly noted, however, that Israel also faces the challenge of ensuring the survival of around 20 individuals held hostage in Gaza. When asked what else Israel could possibly do, Trump said, ‘Israel can do a lot,’ but did not provide more extensive details.
The former president also took a moment to bring up Iran but gave no further details. Instead, he emphasized the need to address the humanitarian crisis before anything else, underlining the urgency of feeding the children. Prime Minister Starmer was even more emphatically outspoken, calling the situation in Gaza ‘desperate’. Starmer said, ‘People in Britain are revolted at bearing witness to such images on their screens’.
Vice President JD Vance concurred with Trump’s views, expressing concern about the humanitarian issues in Gaza and the unsettling sight of ‘a lot of starving children’. Commenting on the situation, he said, ‘Israel must do more to allow the aid to get through, and we need to confront Hamas so that they stop blocking food from entering this region’.
In their discussion about Gaza, Starmer declared that the U.K. backs statehood for Palestinians, but insists it must be part of a broader two-state solution strategy. Trump, reflecting on his comments from the previous week, stated that France’s recognition of a Palestinian state doesn’t carry any weight. About his own position on recognizing a Palestinian state, Trump stated on Monday, ‘I will not take a position’ but did not object to Starmer taking one.
These comments came into focus as the U.N. General Assembly convened high-ranking officials on Monday, aiming to promote a two-state resolution to the enduring Israel-Palestinian conflict. Israel and the U.S. have decided to boycott this two-day meeting.
In summary, amid the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and increasing international outcry for action, Trump’s stance seemed to usher in a sense of urgency. Emphasizing the necessity of immediate food aid to the region, he attempted to motivate Israel to participate more actively in resolving the crisis. While he refused to take a concrete position on the two-state solution, he acknowledged the pressing need for humanitarian action.
The post Trump Urges Immediate Deliverance of Food Aid to Gaza Amid Crisis appeared first on Real News Now.
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