Trump sees ‘actual hunger’ in Gaza, vows to step up assist : NPR

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Monday.

Jane Barlow/AP

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Jane Barlow/AP

President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned doing extra to feed the ravenous inhabitants within the Gaza Strip on Monday, as a global outcry mounted over the rising variety of folks dying of starvation within the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Trump’s feedback throughout a go to to Scotland had been at odds together with his shut ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Sunday claimed that “there is no starvation in Gaza.”

The United Nations’ World Food Programme says a third of Gaza’s inhabitants of about 2 million go for days with out consuming, as a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals there stay in “famine-like conditions.” The World Health Organization said on Sunday there had been a “marked spike” in malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza: 63 in July, together with 25 youngsters.

Asked by reporters whether or not he agreed with Netanyahu’s evaluation a couple of lack of hunger, Trump mentioned: “I don’t know. I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry. But we’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up.”

Trump later said, “Some of those kids are — that’s real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can’t fake that. So we’re going to be even more involved.”

Starmer said the “situation on the ground in Gaza is absolutely intolerable.” He mentioned for the British public, “those images of starving children in particular are revolting.”

The humanitarian disaster has deepened after practically 22 months of warfare between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which started with a lethal Hamas-led assault in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

After rising worldwide criticism over Israel’s restrictions on the circulation of humanitarian assist in Gaza, the Israeli navy mentioned Sunday it will start to pause preventing for 10 hours a day in Gaza’s inhabitants facilities to permit extra meals assist, together with airdrops, into the enclave.

Trump mentioned “it’s very difficult to deal with Hamas,” the militant and political group that runs Gaza. Hamas and different fighters in Gaza are believed to carry 22 residing hostages and the our bodies of 28 deceased hostages taken in its Oct. 7 assault on Israel.

But Trump additionally mentioned “Israel has a lot of responsibility” for the restricted meals assist in Gaza, and mentioned he wanted Netanyahu to “make sure they get the food.”

He mentioned the U.S. with the assistance of European international locations would arrange “food centers” with no obstacles or fences, so folks might go and get what they want. He didn’t elaborate on the plan.

NPR’s Franco Ordoñez contributed reporting from Turnberry, Scotland, and Lauren Frayer contributed from Aberdeen.