Trump declines to say if he supports or opposes potential Gaza takeover by Israel
U.S. President Donald Trump shouts to reporters as he walks on the roof of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 5, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump declined to say whether he supported or opposed a potential military takeover of Gaza by Israel and said his administration's focus was on increasing food access to the Palestinian enclave under assault from Washington's ally.
KEY QUOTES
"I know that we are there now trying to get people fed," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "As far as the rest of it, I really can't say. That's going to be pretty much up to Israel."
Trump said Israel and Arab states were going to help with food and aid distribution in Gaza and provide financial assistance. He did not elaborate.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met senior security officials on Tuesday, with media reporting he favored a complete military takeover of Gaza.
Trump had proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza earlier this year, an idea which was condemned by many around the world including human rights experts, Arab states, the U.N. and Palestinians.
CONTEXT
Israel's near two-year long military assault in Gaza has killed tens of thousands, caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced nearly the entire population and led to accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court.
Israel denies the accusations and casts its military offensive as self-defense following an October 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed 1,200 and in which over 250 were taken hostage. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Cambodia and Thailand to hammer out permanent ceasefire in Malaysia meeting
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (From left) Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha, Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Thai acting defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7. KUALA LUMPUR - Cambodia and Thailand's top defence officials began a meeting in Malaysia on Aug 7 to finalise a permanent end to hostilities following a violent five-day border conflict that ended in an unconditional ceasefire late in July. The South-east Asian neighbours saw the worst fighting in over a decade in July, including exchanges of artillery fire and jet fighter bombing runs that claimed at least 43 lives and left over 300,000 people displaced on both sides of the border. Fighting continued despite diplomatic interventions from China and Malaysia, chair of the regional bloc Asean, calling for restraint. The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand only came to the negotiation table when US President Donald Trump told them that tariff negotiations would not continue unless there was peace, Reuters exclusively reported. Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand's acting defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit are due to meet at Malaysia's Armed Forces headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The two countries will establish guidelines to resolve border disputes, restore trust between their military forces and agree to a ceasefire with measures to minimise tensions and protect civilians, Mr Nattaphon said in a statement before the talks. The conditions were formulated during three days of talks between senior officials in Kuala Lumpur and are to be finalised on the fourth day in the presence of observers from China and the United States. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Wastewater overflow in Bedok and Chai Chee due to choked sewer at BTO worksite: PUB Singapore Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates Singapore Teen's love of dance powers her through cancer to perform at NDP2025 Life Feeling extra patriotic? Here are 7 other SG60 songs beyond official NDP theme Here We Are Singapore Man handed three vaping-related charges including importing 3,080 pods Business DBS shares hit record-high after Q2 profit beats forecast on strong wealth fees, trading income World Trump's 100% semiconductor tariffs may hit chipmakers in Singapore, other SEA nations Thailand and Cambodia have quarrelled for decades over undemarcated parts of their 817km land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when the latter was its colony. REUTERS
CNA
29 minutes ago
- CNA
Switzerland to hold 'extraordinary meeting' on US tariffs
GENEVA: Switzerland will hold an extraordinary meeting on Thursday (Aug 7) after top officials failed to convince the government of US President Donald Trump in Washington not to impose 39 per cent tariffs on Swiss goods. The rate is one of the highest imposed on countries trading with the United States and jeopardises entire sectors of the export-heavy Swiss economy, notably watchmaking and industrial machinery, but also chocolate and cheese. "Tariffs: After its delegation returns from the USA, the Federal Council will hold an extraordinary meeting in the early afternoon. A statement will follow after the meeting," the government posted on X. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economy Minister Guy Parmelin had gone to the United States but were only able to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and not Trump. After the meeting on Wednesday Switzerland has been hit particularly hard by the new US tariffs on products from dozens of economies, which came into effect on Thursday. Competitors of Swiss companies in the EU will only see their products taxed at 15 per cent, and those from the United Kingdom at just 10 per cent. The wave of US tariffs taking effect on Thursday does not cover sectors that are being separately targeted by US investigations such as pharmaceuticals, a key sector for Switzerland. This threatens tens of thousands of jobs in the Alpine country. Trump justified his action - which took Swiss authorities by complete surprise - by the fact that Switzerland has a trade surplus of several tens of billions of dollars with the United States.
Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Kyrgyzstan enacts media law despite rights concerns
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attends an informal meeting of Commonwealth of Independent States heads of state at the Igora resort in Leningrad region, Russia December 25, 2024. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo BISHKEK - Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed a controversial media law that expands government control over independent outlets, despite criticism from journalists and rights groups. The law requires all media, including online platforms, to register with authorities and limits foreign ownership to 35%. Critics say it could be used to silence dissent and stifle press freedom. Japarov also recently approved penalties for spreading "false information", introducing fines of up to 65,000 soms ($740) for media outlets. Rights groups have warned the measures violate international standards on freedom of expression. Kyrgyzstan, once seen as a relative haven for press freedom in Central Asia, has witnessed a sharp decline in media independence in recent years amid arrests, legal pressure, and the closure of critical outlets. REUTERS
