During a meeting in Scotland with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time that people in Gaza are experiencing “real starvation.” He said he is developing multiple aid initiatives in coordination with Israel to address the crisis.
Trump, speaking at his Turnberry golf course, acknowledged that the images of malnourished children in Gaza were real and not fabricated. He firmly dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that starvation isn’t occurring in Gaza, stating, “This is clearly real starvation.”” You can’t fake that.” He added, “Just from television, those kids look very hungry. We have to feed them.”
Trump’s remarks are expected to intensify international pressure on Israel to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid. UN officials and aid organizations have repeatedly warned that famine is looming, especially among children.
Prime Minister Starmer described the situation as “an absolute catastrophe” and said the British public feels horrified by the images from Gaza. He pushed for an immediate ceasefire.
Starmer aimed to present a broader UK peace proposal one he previously discussed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron but Trump focused primarily on short-term humanitarian relief. He proposed creating “food centres where people can walk in with no boundaries,” indirectly criticizing the troubled rollout of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Israel established the GHF to replace the UN as Gaza’s primary aid provider, but the foundation has drawn heavy criticism after more than 1,000 Palestinians died many while attempting to access aid and facing violence near distribution sites.
This week, Israel slightly loosened its blockade on Gaza. However, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher reported that fewer than 100 aid trucks entered on Sunday well below the 700 trucks per day seen during earlier ceasefires. Fletcher stated that one out of every three people in Gaza has gone without food for several days.
Although Israeli officials dismiss famine warnings as Hamas propaganda, Trump maintained that a ceasefire remains “possible.” He said he advised Netanyahu to consider a new strategy, suggesting that Hamas’s reduced hostage count may have weakened incentives for negotiations.
At home, Starmer faces growing pressure particularly after President Macron endorsed recognizing Palestinian statehood. While Starmer supports eventual recognition, he insists it must align with achieving lasting peace. He plans to hold an emergency cabinet meeting on the Gaza crisis later this week.
