President Donald Trump on Monday took a notable step away from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid intensifying global concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where malnutrition and hunger are reaching crisis levels.
Speaking alongside newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, Trump acknowledged that there is “real starvation” occurring in Gaza and said the United States would play a greater role in delivering aid to the besieged enclave. The comments mark a rare public split with Netanyahu, who has repeatedly denied reports of widespread hunger in Gaza.
“I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly,” Trump said when asked whether he agreed with Netanyahu’s claim that there is no starvation. “Those children look very hungry.”
The remarks reflect growing discomfort within Trump’s own political base about the humanitarian toll of Israel’s war against Hamas, now nearly a year old. They also come amid reports of nearly one in three Gazans going multiple days without eating and photos of emaciated children circulating globally, prompting outrage.
A Shift, But Not a Break
Trump has stopped short of directly blaming Israel for the crisis or endorsing the recognition of a Palestinian state — a position many European leaders have now adopted. Still, his acknowledgment of the scale of suffering in Gaza, and his emphasis on humanitarian access, suggests a shift in tone.
“We’re going to set up food centers where people can walk in. No boundaries. No fences,” Trump said. He gave few specifics, but emphasized that the United States, along with European partners, would lead the effort.
The president’s comments come as international scrutiny of Israel’s blockade intensifies. Since March, Israel has restricted the entry of aid, citing concerns about diversion by Hamas. The U.N. and other agencies, however, argue the real challenge is the danger aid workers face in the field, particularly in areas where coordination with the Israeli military is absent or inconsistent.
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Under Fire
In May, Trump’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, announced a U.S.-led operation through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to bypass international aid gridlock. The group was supposed to distribute food with Israeli cooperation, but has since become mired in controversy.
According to public reports and aid monitors, chaotic GHF distribution points have become scenes of violence. Hungry civilians have been shot at near aid trucks, and over 700 people have been killed since GHF began operations. Nearly 5,000 have been injured. Allegations have also surfaced that GHF contractors fired live ammunition during riots near food deliveries.
On Monday, a group of Senate Democrats called on the administration to investigate the GHF and return to the United Nations-led distribution model, calling the current system “deeply flawed and dangerous.”
“The U.S. government must stop facilitating GHF operations,” the senators wrote, “and use U.S. leverage to urge the Netanyahu government to revert to the UN-led mechanism, both for the safety and well-being of Palestinians in Gaza and to preserve humanitarian principles.”
Netanyahu: Still an Ally, but Under Pressure
Trump and Netanyahu have long shared a strong political bond. Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the U.S. embassy there, and pushed for regional normalization with Arab nations. Netanyahu even nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize during a visit to the White House.
But the Gaza crisis is testing that alliance.
“He certainly seemed to have a different view of what’s happening on the ground,” said Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Whether that translates into action is another matter.”
Israel, under pressure, has taken limited steps. Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces announced it would begin airdrops of food, pause fighting temporarily, and open corridors to allow U.N. convoys through.
Still, Israeli officials continue to blame the United Nations for failing to pick up aid pallets and accuse Hamas of exploiting humanitarian channels. U.N. officials pushed back.
“When bureaucratic and political hurdles are lifted, the humanitarian community has shown it can deliver aid safely and at scale,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement.
GOP Base Splintering?
Among Republicans, staunch support for Israel remains dominant, but recent events are causing visible cracks. Popular conservative voices such as podcaster Theo Von and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have publicly condemned the suffering in Gaza, calling for immediate humanitarian intervention.
“This isn’t about politics. This is about humanity,” Von wrote on social media. Greene echoed the sentiment, calling both the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7 and the situation in Gaza “horrific.”
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a close Trump ally, has gone further, hosting an Israeli father of a Hamas-held hostage on his show and urging U.S. aid to Israel be made conditional on a ceasefire.
What Comes Next?
Despite his remarks Monday, Trump has not outlined a clear plan. His call for “food centers” is vague, and the effectiveness of a U.S.-led effort without Israeli cooperation remains uncertain. Previous statements from Trump suggest flexibility in his positions — something critics say raises doubts about follow-through.
Nonetheless, Trump’s comments may be a sign of growing American impatience with the humanitarian status quo in Gaza, even at the risk of straining ties with Netanyahu.
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