Trump rejects Netanyahu's claim of no starvation in Gaza
More: One meal a day. $20 for an egg. Choosing which kid gets fed. Starvation stalks Gaza
As images of starved children in Gaza have alarmed the world, Netanyahu denied that Israel is conducting a starvation campaign, calling such accusations a "bold-faced lie" and even rejecting that starvation is occurring.
"There is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza," Netanyahu said on July 27
More: Israel pauses some military action in Gaza as starvation spreads: What to know
The Gaza health ministry said on July 28 that 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.
To help get additional food into Gaza, Israel on July 27 announced a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and the creation of new aid corridors as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies into the enclave.
Trump, speaking alongside Starmer at his golf resort, said the United States had provided $60 million for humanitarian aid, and other nations would have to step up.
Trump said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 27, and she told him European countries would ramp up their assistance very substantially.
Starmer called the mounting starvation in Gaza a "humanitarian crisis" and an "absolute catastrophe," adding that "the people in Britain are revolted by what they're seeing on their screens."
More: More than 100 aid, rights groups call for action as hunger spreads in Gaza
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.
"You have a lot of starving people," Trump said, later criticizing the Hamas militant group for not agreeing to release more Israeli hostages, living and dead. Trump said he told Netanyahu that Israel's approach would likely have to change.
"I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way," Trump said.
Contributing: Reuters
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
3 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Trump announces 25% tariff on India plus penalties for buying Russian energy
The US president said on Wednesday that India 'is our friend' but its tariffs 'are far too high' on US goods. He added that India buys military equipment and oil from Russia, which Mr Trump said has enabled the war in Ukraine. As a result, he intends to charge an additional 'penalty' starting on Friday as part of revised tariffs on multiple countries. The new tariffs could put India at a disadvantage in the US market relative to Vietnam, Bangladesh and, possibly, China, said Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations. 'We are back to square one as Trump hasn't spelled out what the penalties would be in addition to the tariff,' he added. 'The demand for Indian goods is bound to be hit.' The announcement came after a series of negotiated trade frameworks with the European Union, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia — all of which Mr Trump said would open markets for American goods while enabling the US to raise tax rates on imports. The president views tariff revenues as a way to help offset the budget deficit increases tied to his recent income tax cuts and generate more domestic factory jobs. While he has effectively wielded tariffs as a cudgel to reset the terms of trade, the economic impact is uncertain as most economists expect a slowdown in US growth and greater inflationary pressures as the costs of the taxes are passed along to domestic businesses and consumers. His approach of putting a 15% tariff on America's longstanding allies in the EU is also generating pushback — possibly causing European partners as well as Canada to seek alternatives to US leadership on the world stage. Washington has long sought to develop a deeper partnership with New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established a good working relationship with Mr Trump, and the two leaders are likely to further boost co-operation between their countries. At a population exceeding 1.4 billion people, India is the world's largest country and a possible geopolitical counterbalance to China. India and Russia have close relations, and New Delhi has not supported western sanctions on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. When Mr Trump met Mr Modi in February, the US president said India would start buying American oil and natural gas. He discussed his policies on trade and tariffs with reporters accompanying him on Tuesday on the flight home after a five-day visit to Scotland. He declined to comment then about reports that India was bracing for a US tariff rate of at least 25%, saying: 'We're going to see.' Mr Trump also said the outlines of a trade agreement with India had not yet been finalised.
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Arab nations tell Hamas to ‘disarm' and end rule of Gaza after Starmer ultimatum
Arab nations have taken the unprecedented step of telling Hamas to lay down its arms and surrender control of Gaza. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for the terrorist group to 'disarm' and disband. It the first time these countries have condemned the group and demanded it to play no part in the future of Palestine. The landmark shift comes after Sir Keir Starmer issued Israel with an ultimatum, pledging to recognise Palestine if Benjamin Netanyahu's administration fails to take steps to end the war in Gaza by September. The three countries joined 14 other countries, including Britain and France, in calling for the disbandment of the group. The declaration, produced after a United Nations conference in New York, read: 'In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State.' French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the declaration as 'both historic and unprecedented'. 'For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn October 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance, and clearly express their intention to normalise relations with Israel in the future,' he said. On Tuesday, the prime minister recalled the Cabinet from their summer holidays to discuss steps to end what he called the 'appalling situation in Gaza', where a UN assessment has warned the population is facing a mounting humanitarian crisis. Sir Keir said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. Hamas must immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', Sir Keir also said. But the pledge sparked international backlash, with Emily Damari – a British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for more than a year – warning that Sir Keir is 'not standing on the right side of history'. She accused the prime minister of a 'moral failure', warning that the ultimatum 'risks rewarding terror'. 'It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy", she added. Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister issued a furious response, saying the decision 'rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims.' Mr Netanyahu added: 'A jihadist state on Israel's border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen.' US president Donald Trump also accused the UK of 'rewarding Hamas' with the ultimatum, despite previously saying he did not mind the PM 'taking a position' on the issue. It comes amid confusion over whether or not the release of remaining hostages is a condition for the recognition of Palestine, with transport secretary Heidi Alexander on Wednesday morning tying herself in knots on the issue. She told the BBC ministers have 'always said right from day one that the hostages need to be released', adding that the UK expects 'Hamas to act in the same way as we expect Israel to act'. But asked directly if the release of hostages is a condition for recognition, she said: 'We will be making an assessment in September'. Speaking to Sky, she added: 'This isn't about Hamas, this is actually about delivering for the Palestinian people and making sure that we can get aid in.' The conditional pledge to recognise Palestine came amid mounting domestic pressure on the prime minister after more than 250 cross-party MPs signed a letter calling for ministers to take the step. The formation of a new left-wing political party, led by Jeremy Corbyn and ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana last week piled further pressure on the PM to act. Sarah Champion, the senior Labour MP who organised the letter, told BBC Radio 4 the prime minister's announcement was 'a really big movement' and would send a message to Israel that the status quo 'is not good enough'. But she added: 'I am a little concerned though that from what I'm hearing it seems to be conditional on Israel accepting some terms and I don't understand why the two things are being linked together.' Opposition parties also raised concerns about the conditional nature of the UK's position, with Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey criticising Sir Keir for using Palestinian statehood as a 'bargaining chip', while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts called for the 'immediate recognition of Palestine'. Addressing the UN Assembly on Tuesday, foreign secretary David Lammy backed the statement signed by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt saying: 'Hamas must never be rewarded for the monstrous attack on Oct 7.' 'It must immediately release the hostages, agree to an immediate ceasefire, accept it will have no role in governing Gaza and commit to disarmament.'
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Out of despair has sprung some unexpected hope for Gaza
It may not be a simple and direct example of cause and effect, but the calls from leading nations in the Arab world for Hamas to disarm and give up its claim to govern Gaza must be giving Sir Keir Starmer additional confidence that his decision to recognise a sovereign Palestinian state is on the right side of history. The prime minister made it clear in his historic statement that these terrorists must 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', and this evidence that the regional geopolitical balance is tipping further against them is highly encouraging. Of course, Hamas can still count on the backing of the ayatollahs in Tehran, but Iran is certainly no longer the power it once was, and their other allies, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, have been similarly quieted. Remarkably, it is almost the entire Arab world, represented by the Arab League, that has made this historic move, in concert with European nations and others. They all now want to see an end to Hamas rule in Gaza, however nominal it may now in reality be, and their call is unequivocal: 'In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.' With the recent backing for a state of Palestine by Sir Keir and President Macron, the tectonic plates have shifted. The fact that the leaders of Britain and France, two of the old colonial powers in the area, have joined at last in the cause of establishing a free and viable Palestinian state has no doubt weighed heavily in the balance in a part of the world where history matters. As David Lammy, the foreign secretary, said, that part of the Balfour Declaration pertaining to the Palestinian Arabs is now being honoured. The Arab League's declaration is by far the best news that has come from the UN summit being held in New York on a two-state solution. Israel and the United States have chosen not to attend, and the Americans also recently pulled out of the peace talks in Qatar, but even the Trump administration cannot entirely ignore this wind of change blowing through some of America's most important allies and partners – Saudi Arabia and Egypt being the pre-eminent examples. If President Trump wishes to extend the Abraham Accords process that was such a notable success in his first term, then he too should welcome these latest diplomatic initiatives and back them enthusiastically. The Abraham peace treaties, which entailed diplomatic recognition of Israel, that were concluded with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, can and should be joined by Saudi Arabia and others – as President Trump has always intended. It would make Israel more secure, and all involved more prosperous. Indeed, the prospect of the Saudis and Israelis normalising their relations may have been one motive for the Hamas terrorists committing their atrocities on 7 October 2023 – to disrupt such peaceful trends. President Trump also said that he was content for Sir Keir to 'take a position' on Palestinian sovereignty when he was in Scotland only a few days ago, and has repeated that he doesn't have to agree with what the British and French are doing. That is far from an outright condemnation, and, as momentum builds, he may judge that he can lend more backing. In any case, the president should further brief his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on what a return to the Abraham Accords process would mean to the administration's legacy, and the prospects for extending American power and trade across the Middle East. There are reservations. The claim made by the Israelis, by Mr Trump and others, that recognising Palestinian sovereignty is a 'reward' for Hamas terrorism is an understandable one – but it is wrong. As has been seen with the widespread demands for Hamas to give up the hostages, disarm and transfer governance to the Palestinian Authority, the organisation is hardly being rewarded for what it did. It is not Hamas that is to be recognised as a legitimate authority, but the Palestinian Authority and President Abbas, based in Ramallah, who are no allies of Hamas. The truth that Benjamin Netanyahu has to confront is that it is his conduct of the war in Gaza that has made more Western states – normally friends and partners of Israel – decide that recognition of Palestinian sovereignty has to be made now for fear that the whole project of a two-state solution and lasting peace becomes completely unviable. In other words, had the Israelis gone after the Hamas leaders and the terrorists, rather than flattening the entire territory, with the loss of an estimated 80,000 lives, these moves on establishing the state of Palestine would not be taking place. Not that it matters much in the context of a historic move towards peace that is as dramatic as it is unexpected, the prime minister has also defused the growing unrest in his own party over Gaza. Sir Keir's principled stand that Israel had a right to defend itself after the 7 October attacks cost him dear in domestic electoral terms, but he stuck with it. It stands today, too – but the disproportionate way Israel has behaved towards civilians, culminating in a growing famine, has undoubtedly weakened its international support and left the nation isolated. In that sense, in lashing out in a vengeful manner for so long, it is Mr Netanyahu who has played into Hamas's plans and damaged the long-term interests of the Israeli people. That war suited him politically, as it did Hamas, is one of the more uncomfortable aspects of this conflict. Today, out of despair has sprung some unexpected hope for Gaza and for an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people – but also for Israel to be free of attack and invasion. Mr Netanyahu's government will not be in power for ever, and the inglorious era of Hamas rule is coming to a close. Those factors are also cause for optimism. That hope for peace should be cherished, for everyone knows what the inhuman alternative looks like, and it doesn't work.
