Donald Trump has acknowledged for the first time that there is “real starvation” in Gaza and urged Israel to let in “every ounce of food”, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who had denied any hunger crisis. Speaking during a visit to Scotland, the US president said children in Gaza “look very hungry” and that the suffering was “real”.
Trump’s remarks came after meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who privately pressed him on the humanitarian crisis. Trump told reporters that Israel bore “a lot of responsibility” for the situation, a rebuke to Netanyahu’s earlier claim that there was “no starvation” in the territory.
“I want him to make sure they get the food, every ounce of food,” Trump said, referring to his next conversation with Netanyahu. The US president also criticised Hamas for not releasing remaining hostages and suggested he had asked Israel to change its approach: “I told Israel … you have to now maybe do it a different way.”
Starmer, speaking alongside Trump, described the situation in Gaza as an “absolute catastrophe” and said the British public were “revolted” by it. He called for an urgent ceasefire.
Israel announced a temporary daily suspension of fighting in three areas of Gaza to allow aid deliveries, but violence continued. At least 25 Palestinians, including four children, were killed on Monday when Israeli troops opened fire on people seeking aid from a truck convoy, according to health officials.
