US President Donald Trump on Monday signalled a marked shift in tone on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, expressing concern about possible famine in the region and urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to alter his military approach.
Speaking in Scotland alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer , Trump said images of starving children had left him “very concerned,” and he acknowledged that Israel “has a lot of responsibility” for the worsening situation.
“Those children look very hungry,” Trump said outside his Turnberry golf resort, as quoted by Politico. “That’s real starvation stuff.”
He added, “We’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up. I told Israel, I told Bibi, that you have to now maybe do it a different way.”
Trump’s comments came just hours after Netanyahu claimed there was “no starvation” in Gaza. Asked directly if he agreed with the Israeli leader’s assessment, Trump replied, “I don’t know. Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry”, according to the Guardian.
Trump emphasised that Israel must ensure food aid is reaching civilians in Gaza. “I want him to make sure they get the food. I want to make sure they get the food”, he said , as quoted by news agency AP.
This marked one of Trump’s most pointed critiques of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza, particularly as pressure mounts globally. His remarks came during a bilateral meeting with Starmer, who also condemned the humanitarian toll. “People in Britain are revolted at what they’re seeing on their screens,” the UK Prime Minister said.
Trump said that although the US and other nations have sent large quantities of aid, much of it was being stolen by Hamas, a claim multiple outlets have since questioned. Still, he pledged to work with European partners to set up food centres inside Gaza to ease the crisis.
“I see it, and you can’t fake that,” Trump said, referring to video footage of emaciated children. “So, we’re going to be even more involved.”
Trump was non-committal on the UK’s proposal to recognise a Palestinian state, saying, “I’m not going to take a position. I don’t mind [Starmer] taking a position. I’m looking for getting people fed right now.”
The Gaza issue was at the top of Starmer’s agenda for the visit, with Downing Street earlier confirming he would urge Trump to press Israel for a ceasefire and to ease aid restrictions.
Trump said a truce was “possible” but stopped short of offering a specific diplomatic path forward.
Meanwhile, Trump also used the occasion to renew his warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. “We thought we had that settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever,” Trump said.
In response, he said he would shorten the 50-day ceasefire deadline he had previously given Putin, possibly reducing it to “10 or 12 days.”
The two leaders also touched on trade, with Trump boasting of a recently signed bilateral trade agreement and reiterating that the UK is “very well-protected” because “I like them — that’s their ultimate protection.” Trump and Starmer signed a trade pact at the G7 summit in Canada earlier this year, easing tariffs on aerospace and automotive sectors.
Starmer and Trump’s meeting, held at the president’s Turnberry resort, was followed by a trip to Aberdeen, where Trump will inaugurate a new golf course on Tuesday. The visit comes amid protests across Scotland decrying the president’s stance on various issues.
Speaking in Scotland alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer , Trump said images of starving children had left him “very concerned,” and he acknowledged that Israel “has a lot of responsibility” for the worsening situation.
“Those children look very hungry,” Trump said outside his Turnberry golf resort, as quoted by Politico. “That’s real starvation stuff.”
He added, “We’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up. I told Israel, I told Bibi, that you have to now maybe do it a different way.”
Trump’s comments came just hours after Netanyahu claimed there was “no starvation” in Gaza. Asked directly if he agreed with the Israeli leader’s assessment, Trump replied, “I don’t know. Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry”, according to the Guardian.
Trump emphasised that Israel must ensure food aid is reaching civilians in Gaza. “I want him to make sure they get the food. I want to make sure they get the food”, he said , as quoted by news agency AP.
This marked one of Trump’s most pointed critiques of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza, particularly as pressure mounts globally. His remarks came during a bilateral meeting with Starmer, who also condemned the humanitarian toll. “People in Britain are revolted at what they’re seeing on their screens,” the UK Prime Minister said.
Trump said that although the US and other nations have sent large quantities of aid, much of it was being stolen by Hamas, a claim multiple outlets have since questioned. Still, he pledged to work with European partners to set up food centres inside Gaza to ease the crisis.
“I see it, and you can’t fake that,” Trump said, referring to video footage of emaciated children. “So, we’re going to be even more involved.”
Trump was non-committal on the UK’s proposal to recognise a Palestinian state, saying, “I’m not going to take a position. I don’t mind [Starmer] taking a position. I’m looking for getting people fed right now.”
The Gaza issue was at the top of Starmer’s agenda for the visit, with Downing Street earlier confirming he would urge Trump to press Israel for a ceasefire and to ease aid restrictions.
Trump said a truce was “possible” but stopped short of offering a specific diplomatic path forward.
Meanwhile, Trump also used the occasion to renew his warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. “We thought we had that settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever,” Trump said.
In response, he said he would shorten the 50-day ceasefire deadline he had previously given Putin, possibly reducing it to “10 or 12 days.”
The two leaders also touched on trade, with Trump boasting of a recently signed bilateral trade agreement and reiterating that the UK is “very well-protected” because “I like them — that’s their ultimate protection.” Trump and Starmer signed a trade pact at the G7 summit in Canada earlier this year, easing tariffs on aerospace and automotive sectors.
Starmer and Trump’s meeting, held at the president’s Turnberry resort, was followed by a trip to Aberdeen, where Trump will inaugurate a new golf course on Tuesday. The visit comes amid protests across Scotland decrying the president’s stance on various issues.
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