Turnberry [Scotland], July 29 : In a pointed departure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent comments, US President Donald Trump on Monday contradicted the claim that there is “no starvation in Gaza,” asserting that the humanitarian crisis is undeniable and visible.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We’ll be helping with the food. We have a lot of access to food… We’re going to bring it over there,” Trump said. He blamed restrictions on aid movement for worsening the crisis. “You’ve seen the areas where they actually have food and the people are screaming for the food… They won’t let them because they have lines that are set up, and whether they’re set up by Hamas or whoever, they’re very strict lines. We have to get rid of those lines,” he said.
The US President also stressed the grim reality on the ground: “Some of those kids… that’s real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can’t fake that.”
Trump’s remarks came a day after Netanyahu declared during a conference in Jerusalem, “There is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza.” The Israeli leader reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s military objectives, vowing continued operations against Hamas until the group’s military and governing capacities are dismantled and Israeli hostages are freed.
However, reports from humanitarian agencies and health officials in Gaza contradict Netanyahu’s assertion. According to Al Jazeera, citing local sources, at least 14 Palestinians — including two children — died from hunger and malnutrition within a 24-hour period. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that a total of 147 people, including 88 children, have died due to starvation-related causes since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023.
The hunger crisis has escalated in recent weeks, attributed to Israeli restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid. Although a full blockade was slightly eased in May, the aid allowed through has remained severely limited. Humanitarian groups and the United Nations have repeatedly warned of the risk of widespread starvation unless access to food and medical aid is restored.
Israel’s military campaign began after Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,139 Israeli deaths and over 200 hostages. Since then, nearly 60,000 Palestinians — many of them women and children — have been killed, according to Al Jazeera.
Trump’s statements mark a significant shift in tone from Washington, highlighting internal tension between the US and its longstanding ally Israel over the handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
No Comments: