Trump says No. 1 priority now in Gaza is getting people fed
TURNBERRY, Scotland - US President Donald Trump said on July 28 the No. 1 priority in Gaza was getting people fed, because 'you have a lot of starving people', adding that he was not going to take a position on Palestinian statehood at the moment.
Mr Trump, speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, said the United States had provided US$60 million (S$77 million) for humanitarian aid, and other nations would have to step up.
He said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 27, and she told him European countries would step up their assistance very substantially. He said he also planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Mr Starmer during his visit on July 28.
'We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up,' Mr Trump said. 'It's a mess. They have to get food and safety right now.'
Mr Starmer agreed, saying: 'It's a humanitarian crisis, right? It's an absolute catastrophe ... I think people in Britain are revolted at seeing what they're seeing on their screen.'
Mr Trump said he would not comment on a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to
back Palestinian statehood .
Mr Trump also criticised the Hamas militant group for not agreeing to release more hostages, living and dead, and said he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel's approach would likely have to change.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Asia Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row
Asia Gunman kills 5 near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life
Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: BCA to conduct independent probe, act against any non-compliance
Singapore Foreign workers who rescued woman from sinkhole given tokens of appreciation
Singapore COE quota up 2.6% to 18,701 for August-October period
Business SIA's first-quarter profits fall by 59%; airline group sees volatile times ahead
Singapore Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Aug 4 in case linked to ex-transport minister Iswaran
Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose
'I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way,' Mr Trump said, echoing similar comments made on Sunday.
Asked if a ceasefire was still possible, Mr Trump said, 'Yeah, a ceasefire is possible, but you have to get it, you have to end it.'
He did not elaborate on what he meant.
Mr Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, saying the Palestinian group had changed its position and was refusing to release more hostages.
Hamas has said it is willing to release hostages under a ceasefire agreement with Israel. It submitted its response to a US-backed ceasefire proposal on July 24 at talks in Doha. Hours later, Israel withdrew its delegation from the talks.
On July 27, Mr Trump said Israel would have to make a decision on next steps, adding, 'I know what I'd do, but I don't think it's appropriate that I say it.'
Israel
carried out an air drop and announced a series of measures over the weekend to improve access for aid, including
daily humanitarian pauses in three areas of Gaza and new safe corridors for convoys. UN agencies say those moves are not yet sufficient to alleviate famine-like conditions facing Gazans.
On July 28, the Gaza health ministry said at least 14 people had died in the past 24 hours of starvation and malnutrition, bringing the war's death toll from hunger to 147, including 89 children, most in just the last few weeks.
Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza from the start of March, reopening the territory with new restrictions in May. Israel says it abides by international law but must prevent aid from being diverted by militants, and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza's people.
'Israel is presented as though we are applying a campaign of starvation in Gaza. What a bald-faced lie. There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza,' Mr Netanyahu said on July 27. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Israel says ground troops conducted raids in Syria
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Israeli troops patrol the border fence with Syria near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights. JERUSALEM - Israel's military said on Aug 3 ground troops had operated in southern Syria, seizing weapons and questioning individuals suspected of arms trafficking, in the latest cross-border raid since the fall of Mr Bashar al-Assad in December. A military statement said that troops had completed overnight 'a mission involving on-site questioning of several suspects involved in weapons trafficking in the Hader area in southern Syria', near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. 'Troops entered four locations simultaneously and located numerous weapons that the suspects had been trafficking,' the statement said. Footage released by the military showed uniformed Israeli troops in armoured vehicles and on foot operating at night. An Israeli army division remains 'deployed in the area, continuing to operate and prevent the entrenchment of any terrorist elements in Syria, with the aim of protecting Israeli civilians, and in particular, the residents of the Golan Heights', the military said. As an Islamist-led offensive late in 2024 toppled Syrian president Assad , Israel deployed troops to the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights which has separated Israeli and Syrian forces following their 1973 war. In July, Israel bombed Syrian government forces in the capital Damascus and in Sweida province to force their withdrawal from the southern region amid a wave of sectarian violence. Israel said it was acting in defence of the Druze community, but some diplomats and analysts say its goal is to weaken the Syrian military and keep the forces of the new government away from the frontier. Israel launched hundreds of strikes on military sites followingMr Asaad's overthrow in December, saying at the time it wanted to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of the new authorities it considers jihadists. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the demilitarisation of southern Syria. AFP
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
As Trump's tariffs bite, investors should ensure the companies they own have strong fundamentals
[SINGAPORE] It seemed like Groundhog Day again when US President Donald Trump unveiled revised reciprocal tariffs on imports from dozens of countries last Thursday (Jul 31). The adjusted rates came just one day before the previously announced reciprocal tariffs were due to kick in; the new duties will take effect only on Aug 7. To me, it initially appeared that Trump was once again delaying the full implementation of his tariffs while maintaining pressure on America's trading partners to open their markets. Some observers think Trump might be reaching his endgame on the country-specific tariffs, though. This could be good news. The revised tariff rates for many countries are, with a few notable exceptions, below the rates announced on Apr 2. For instance, the reciprocal tariffs on the European Union, Japan and South Korea are now all down to 15 per cent, from 20 per cent, 24 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. India is down to 25 per cent from 26 per cent. Closer to home, reciprocal tariffs on Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia are now all down to 19 per cent, from 49 per cent, 32 per cent, 24 per cent, respectively. The reciprocal tariff on the Philippines is now also 19 per cent, although this is up from the 17 per cent announced on Apr 2. Vietnam is down to 20 per cent, from 46 per cent previously. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The bad news, however, is that these revised tariffs would still add to the squeeze on global trade when they are implemented. By some estimates , the revised tariffs will push the average US tariff rate up to 15.2 per cent – from 13.3 per cent currently, and from only 2.3 per cent back before Trump took office. The economic impact of higher tariffs was blunted in the first half of 2025 by US importers front-loading their orders. Market sentiment has also been buoyed by massive investment in the artificial intelligence field. The remaining months of the year will probably be tougher for investors. Trump's tariffs are likely to create a demand shock in Asia, resulting in slower growth and deflation. On the other hand, the US could suffer a supply shock that results in slower growth as well as higher inflation – leading to politically charged policy dilemmas. Politics and policymaking Last week, Trump ramped up his campaign to oust Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for refusing to cut rates, insinuating during a visit to the Fed's headquarters that the cost of renovating its buildings was out of control. Trump also fired the commissioner of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) last week, after US job numbers for July came in weaker than expected . The BLS said on Aug 1 that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by only 73,000 last month. Adjustments for the previous two months were also larger than normal. Revised data showed US employers added only 19,000 jobs in May and 14,000 jobs in June, versus the previously reported 144,000 jobs and 147,000 jobs, respectively, for the two months. These political overtones could make it all the more complicated for investors to navigate the markets in the months ahead, as the full impact of Trump's tariffs is felt on growth, inflation and corporate earnings. At its policy meeting on Jul 29-30, the Fed decided to hold the target range for the federal funds rates unchanged, at between 4.25 per cent and 4.5 per cent. Two members of the 12-person rate-setting committee – Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller – preferred a 25-basis-point cut and voted against the decision. This was reportedly the first time since 1993 that two members dissented at a single meeting. A third member, Adriana Kugler, was absent and did not vote. On Aug 1, the Fed said Kugler had submitted her letter of resignation to Trump and would step down on Aug 8. She has served as a governor of the Fed since 2023. Tariff impact in 'early days' Powell said during the post-meeting press conference that the impact of the tariffs on inflation is not only uncertain, but is probably still in its 'early days'. 'What we're seeing now is substantial amounts of tariff revenue being collected, on the order of US$30 billion a month,' he said, adding that most of this is currently being paid by companies that are 'upstream from the consumer'. Powell went on to say that many companies have indicated their intention to eventually push the cost of the tariffs onto their customers. 'But, you know, the truth is they may not be able to in many cases.' The state of the US labour market is also something of a puzzle. While the pace of job creation has been weakening, the unemployment rate in July was little changed from previous months, at 4.2 per cent. 'What that's telling you is that demand for workers is slowing, but so is the supply,' Powell said. He added, 'Because of immigration policy, really, the flow into our labour force is just a great deal slower.' This suggests underlying weakness in the seemingly robust US economy. 'I think you've got downside risks in a world where unemployment is being held down because both demand and supply are declining. And, I think that it's worth paying close attention to it,' Powell said. Less forgiving markets These macro concerns do not appear to be hurting the US corporate earnings for now, though. On Aug 1, financial data provider FactSet said 82 per cent of the S&P 500 companies that have reported their results for Q2 2025 delivered positive earnings-per-share (EPS) surprises. Also, 79 per cent achieved positive revenue surprises. The market is, however, rewarding positive surprises slightly less than it has in the past, and punishing negative surprises more severely. S&P 500 companies that have reported positive earnings surprises for Q2 2025 have seen an average stock price increase of 0.9 per cent over the period spanning two days before their earnings release and two days after. This is below the five-year average of a 1 per cent increase. On the other hand, S&P 500 companies that reported negative earnings surprises for Q2 2025 have seen an average price decrease of 5.6 per cent – versus a five-year average price decline of 2.4 per cent. Among the notable losers last week was Apple, which saw its shares tumble 5.4 per cent despite reporting financial numbers that topped expectations . The S&P 500 ended last week 2.4 per cent lower. The Nasdaq 100 was down 2.2 per cent. The Singapore market was equally unforgiving last week, with the Straits Times Index suffering a 2.5 per decline. Among the notable losers was Seatrium – which ended last week 5.4 per cent lower, despite reporting sharply higher revenue and earnings for H1 2025 and drawing a line under its past involvement in a corruption scandal in Brazil. Singapore Airlines fell 9.9 per cent during the week, after reporting a steep slump in earnings for the quarter to Jun 30 that seemed to catch analysts off-guard and sparked a wave of 'sell' recommendations . Then, there was OCBC – the first of the three local banks to report financial numbers for H1 2025 – which suffered narrower net interest margins as interest rates sank. OCBC ended last week 2.3 per cent lower. DBS and UOB, which are both scheduled to report their H1 2025 numbers on Aug 7, ended last week down 3 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively. As Trump's tariffs begin to bite, investors should carefully parse the financial statements of companies in their portfolios to ensure their micro fundamentals are strong enough to weather the tough months ahead.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Egyptian TV reports rare arrival of fuel trucks for Gaza
CAIRO - Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said on Sunday that two fuel trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread. Gaza's health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients. There was no immediate confirmation whether the fuel trucks had indeed entered Gaza. Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid and goods into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas militants to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel. The Gaza health ministry said on Sunday that six more people had died of starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, raising the toll of those dying of such causes to 175, including 93 children, since the war began. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international outcry, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. United Nations agencies have said that airdrops of food are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the war-devastated territory where starvation has been spreading. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said 35 trucks have entered Gaza since June, nearly all of them in July. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am Singapore Despite bag checks and warnings, young partygoers continue to vape in clubs in Singapore Singapore President Tharman meets migrant workers who saved driver of car that fell into sinkhole Singapore Now flying solo, Acres CEO Kalaivanan Balakrishnan presses ahead with wildlife rescue efforts Opinion The charm – and drawbacks – of living in a time warp in Singapore Business UMS Integration becomes first SGX company with secondary listing in Malaysia Singapore Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on Aug 4, more than 2 years after trip to Qatar with Iswaran Business Decoupling to save on tax? You may lose right to property if ties go awry The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March in a dispute over terms for extending it and resumed its major offensive. Palestinian local health authorities said at least 18 people had been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the coastal enclave on Sunday. Deaths included persons trying to make their way to aid distribution points in southern and central areas of Gaza, Palestinian medics said. Among those killed was a staff member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said an Israeli strike at their headquarters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza ignited a fire on the first floor of the building. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. REUTERS
