Washington/Scotland – Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stark warning over the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing the situation as “real starvation” and urging immediate international intervention to feed the population. His remarks came as aid agencies moved swiftly to utilize a declared Israeli “tactical pause” in fighting to deliver critical food supplies into the war-torn enclave.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Scotland with newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump directly contradicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously dismissed concerns of famine in Gaza as “Hamas propaganda.”
“We’re going to be getting some good strong food in there. We can save a lot of people. I mean, some of those kids — that’s real starvation stuff,” Trump said. “We have to help on a humanitarian basis before we do anything else. We have to get the kids fed.”
Trump revealed that the United States, in coordination with the UK and European Union, plans to support the establishment of new food distribution centres in Gaza. These centres, he said, would be designed to be more accessible and free from military interference. “People should be able to walk in freely. No boundaries. It’s crazy what’s going on over there,” he added.
Contradictory Narratives on Hunger
Trump’s statements stand in sharp contrast to Netanyahu’s assertion on Sunday that “there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation.” Netanyahu made the remarks during a reception in Jerusalem for Trump’s spiritual adviser, Paula White-Cain.
Meanwhile, two Israeli human rights organisations, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, issued a joint statement Monday accusing the Israeli government of “genocide” in Gaza — a significant escalation in domestic criticism of the war effort.
Mounting Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict, now approaching its 22nd month, has resulted in widespread devastation and a near-total collapse of Gaza’s food distribution infrastructure. The humanitarian situation worsened earlier this year when Israel imposed a blockade on supplies between March and May, only recently easing restrictions following international pressure and the launch of U.S.-backed food centres via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
However, the GHF’s operations have come under scrutiny amid reports of Israeli troops firing on civilians near aid distribution points. Some residents have also accused security forces of obstructing access to food.
Amir al-Rash, a 33-year-old father of four in Tel al-Hawa, said he witnessed violence near a distribution centre. “I saw injured and dead people. People have no choice but to try daily to get flour. What entered from Egypt was very limited,” he said.
Others, like 37-year-old Jamil Safadi, described the daily desperation to secure food. “For the first time, I received about five kilos of flour, which I shared with my neighbour,” he said, after two weeks of searching.
Aid Begins to Flow – But Still Not Enough
In recent days, aid agencies have cautiously welcomed Israel’s announcement of a daily “tactical pause” to allow food convoys to move more freely through designated humanitarian corridors. On Sunday, the Israeli defense ministry’s civil coordination body, COGAT, reported that 120 truckloads of aid were delivered, with more scheduled.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has warned, however, that the territory needs at least 500 to 600 truckloads of basic supplies daily to avert widespread famine.
“Opening all crossings and flooding Gaza with assistance is the only way to avert further deepening of starvation among the people of Gaza,” UNRWA stated.
Aid continues to arrive through multiple channels. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have conducted airdrops, while Egypt has facilitated deliveries via the Rafah crossing to Israeli-controlled points inside Gaza.
Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN’s humanitarian coordination office, described the situation on the ground as cautiously optimistic. “We know it’s not perfect, but we want to stay positive,” she said. “Even the fact that all the requests to collect cargo yesterday were approved is already a step in the right direction.”
Calls for Ceasefire Grow Amid Ongoing Violence
Despite these developments, hostilities persist. Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that 54 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Monday alone. International observers and aid groups continue to call for a permanent ceasefire and long-term humanitarian access to stabilize the region.
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise cross-border attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official figures. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has claimed the lives of at least 59,921 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Efforts to broker a truce, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, have so far failed to produce a sustainable resolution. Netanyahu remains committed to the military objective of dismantling Hamas and recovering Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, international leaders face growing pressure to ensure aid delivery and de-escalate the conflict.
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