President Donald Trump said Sunday the U.S. wants Israel to ensure Palestinians in Gaza receive food, adding that Washington is making “pretty big contributions” to purchase aid.
“We want Israel to get them fed… We don’t want people going hungry and we don’t want people to starve,” Trump told reporters before flying back to Washington from his New Jersey golf resort.
Trump praised U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited southern Gaza on Friday to inspect operations of the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), saying the envoy was doing a “great job.” Witkoff said the trip aimed to brief Trump on conditions and shape a plan to deliver food and medical supplies.
Pressed on whether Witkoff witnessed evidence of genocide by Israel in Gaza, Trump declined to use the term: “I don’t think— it’s sad. Look, they’re in a war,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly claimed the U.S. provided $60 million in food aid for Gaza, but recent reports indicate only $3 million has been disbursed so far.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, has killed more than 60,800 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and devastated infrastructure, causing severe food shortages and deaths from starvation.