U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the foremost priority in Gaza is ensuring people are fed, citing “a lot of starving people.” He added that he would not take a position on Palestinian statehood at this time.
Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, Trump highlighted that the United States has provided $60 million in humanitarian aid, urging other nations to increase their contributions. He mentioned discussing the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, who assured him that European countries would significantly boost their assistance. He also planned to address the humanitarian situation with Starmer during his Monday visit.
“We’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up,” Trump said. “It’s a mess. They have to get food and safety right now.”
Starmer concurred, stating, “It’s a humanitarian crisis, right? It’s an absolute catastrophe…. I think people in Britain are revolted at seeing what they’re seeing on their screen.”
Trump declined to comment on French President Emmanuel Macron’s push to support Palestinian statehood.
Trump also criticized the Hamas militant group for not agreeing to release more hostages, both living and dead. He revealed that he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel’s approach might need to change, echoing similar remarks made on Sunday.
When asked if a ceasefire was still possible, Trump replied, “Yeah, a ceasefire is possible, but you have to get it, you have to end it,” without further elaboration.
Trump underscored the critical importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, noting that the Palestinian group had altered its stance and was now refusing to release more captives.
Hamas has previously stated its willingness to release hostages under a ceasefire agreement with Israel. It submitted its response to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal on Thursday during talks in Doha. Hours later, Israel withdrew its delegation from the negotiations.
On Sunday, Trump indicated that Israel would have to decide on its next steps, adding, “I know what I’d do, but I don’t think it’s appropriate that I say it.”
Over the weekend, Israel conducted an airdrop of aid and announced a series of measures to improve aid access, including daily humanitarian pauses in three areas of Gaza and new safe corridors for convoys. However, U.N. agencies assert that these actions are not yet sufficient to alleviate the famine-like conditions facing Gazans.
On Monday, the Gaza health ministry reported that at least 14 people had died in the past 24 hours due to starvation and malnutrition, bringing the war’s death toll from hunger to 147, including 89 children, mostly in recent weeks.
Israel halted all supplies to Gaza at the beginning of March, reopening the territory with new restrictions in May. Israel maintains that it abides by international law but must prevent aid from being diverted by militants, attributing the suffering of Gaza’s people to Hamas.
“Israel is presented as though we are applying a campaign of starvation in Gaza. What a bald-faced lie. There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza,” Netanyahu stated on Sunday.
