‘Not A US Issue’: Trump Promises Aid For Gaza But Urges Others To Contribute
US President Donald Trump called on other nations to extend assistance to Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, noting that the US had provided $60 million but received no gratitude in return.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump urged other countries to offer support to the Gaza region, which is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis and continued violence due to the Israel-Hamas war.
While on a visit to Scotland, Trump was seated alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when he was asked about the images showing malnourished children in Gaza.
Trump stated that Washington has already provided significant help to Gaza and would continue to send aid, but he also insisted that other countries should play a role, calling it a global concern.
“It’s not a US issue, it’s a global issue. If we weren’t involved, I believe people would have starved to death, honestly,” he told reporters, as quoted by The Hill.
Trump further asserted that the US had sent $60 million in aid to Gaza two weeks prior, but “no one even acknowledged it.”
“No one acknowledged it, no one discusses it, and it makes you feel a bit disheartened when you do something like that and no other countries contribute,” he said.
The US President also alleged that Hamas militants were seizing food supplies that were meant for the Gaza population.
“When I see the children, especially over the past few weeks, people are looting the food, taking the funds, stealing the money intended for food. They’re also taking weapons and everything else,” he added.
Meanwhile, Trump stressed that Israel must decide on its future course of action in Gaza, adding that he wasn’t sure what would follow after Israel backed out of the ceasefire and hostage negotiation process with Hamas.
Trump also highlighted the urgency of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, mentioning that the group had recently become more “rigid” on the matter.
“They’re unwilling to release them, so Israel has to make a decision,” he said, as reported by news agency Reuters.
Last week, the Trump administration announced its withdrawal from Gaza ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas for not participating in good faith. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for peace efforts, stated that alternative strategies are being considered to ensure the release of Israeli hostages and to plan Gaza’s future governance.
Earlier talks held in Qatar regarding a ceasefire and hostage release arrangement collapsed this week after the US and Israel pulled out of the negotiations. Israel now faces increasing pressure from several allies, as aid organizations continue to warn of mass starvation and have previously criticized the strategy of dropping supplies into Gaza via air.
Trump’s Gaza Proposal
Earlier in February, during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s US visit, Trump had proposed that the US could “take control” and “possess” Gaza, including relocating its residents.
He suggested that the entire Palestinian population in Gaza — roughly two million people — should be relocated to other countries in the Middle East.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we’ll manage it. We’ll own it and oversee the removal of all unexploded weapons and dangerous ordnance, flatten the area, and clear the damaged structures,” Trump had said.
“We’ll initiate economic development that will generate unlimited employment opportunities and housing for the region’s people — we’ll do something real and new,” he added.
The suggestion received widespread criticism, including from Middle Eastern nations, US allies, and the United Nations. However, Netanyahu praised the plan as a “revolutionary vision” for Gaza.
Gaza Humanitarian Situation
As per the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 127 people in Gaza have died due to malnutrition since the conflict began. In early March, Israel halted all aid deliveries to Gaza under an 11-week blockade. It resumed distribution on 27 May through the new and controversial US-Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The UN reported that over 1,000 Palestinians have died while attempting to collect aid from GHF locations since distribution resumed. Israel claimed the new system prevents aid from falling into Hamas’s hands.
The Israeli military initiated operations in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 individuals being taken hostage.
Since then, at least 59,676 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
