DONALD Trump has spoken of a mystery plan with Israel to end the war in Gaza and announced a mission to get aid to starving Palestinians.
The US President faced pressure from British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to have the US play a larger role in addressing the escalating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
During their meeting at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland, Starmer emphasized the urgency of discussing Gaza. He described the situation there as “a desperate situation” that needed immediate attention.
President Trump acknowledged the difficulties faced by those in the Palestinian enclave and assured that the US would join forces with other nations to deliver additional humanitarian aid, such as food and sanitation, to the residents of Gaza.
The US President vowed to set up food centres across Gaza – insisting: “We want to get the children fed.”
He described the scenes as “terrible” – adding: “We have to help on a humanitarian basis.
“You have a lot of starving people.
“We’re going to set up food centres, and we’re going to do it in conjunction with some very good people.
“We’re going to set up food centres where the people can walk in and no boundaries, we’re not going to have fences.”
Trump said the UK and other nations were joining the effort as the crisis deepened.
He also distanced himself from comments made by Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who insisted there was no starvation in Gaza.
Netanyahu had said on Sunday: “There is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza.”
Asked if he agreed with the Israeli PM, Trump said: “I don’t know. I mean, based on television, I would say not, particularly because those children look very hungry.”
He went on to say that Israel has a lot of responsibility for what’s happening, but said that the country is hampered by considerations of the remaining hostages it wants to see kept alive and freed.
Trump said the Hamas militant group had become difficult to deal with in recent days, but he was talking with Netanyahu about “various plans” to free hostages still being held.
Trump said: “We’ve as you know given a lot of money to Gaza for food and everything else.
“A lot of that money is stolen by Hamas and a lot of the food is stolen.
“The whole place is a mess. It’ll get straightened out… Food and safety right now. Hamas did a horrible thing and they’ve paid a big price.”
The President said the priority was getting food to those who were starving and that he was in discussions with Israeli PM.
He added: “But I always said when you get down to the final 20 they won’t release them, because that’s like their shield. Very unfair.
“So something’s going to have to be done. And they were really unwilling to talk.”
Sir Keir said the situation on the ground in Gaza was “absolutely intolerable” and described images of starving children as “revolting”.
He went on: “There is a sense of revulsion in the British public at what they are seeing.
“We need to galvanise other countries in support of getting that aid in, and yes, that does involve putting pressure on Israel, because it absolutely is a humanitarian catastrophe.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres echoed his comments at a meeting boycotted by the US and Israel.
He said: “The wholesale destruction of Gaza is intolerable…and must stop.”
The prime minister wants Washington’s help in convincing Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and attempting to end what Downing Street called the unspeakable suffering and starvation.
Britain, along with France and Germany, has criticised Israel for withholding essential humanitarian assistance as hunger spreads in Gaza.
Over the weekend, Starmer said Britain will take part in efforts led by Jordan to airdrop aid after Israel temporarily eased restriction
On Monday, the Gaza health ministry said at least 14 people had died in the past 24 hours of starvation and malnutrition, bringing the war’s death toll from hunger to 147, including 89 children.
