"Children Look Very Hungry": Trump Tells Netanyahu to Deliver Aid, Unveils US Relief Plan for Gaza

President Donald Trump on Monday publicly pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to guarantee that humanitarian aid, especially food, reaches civilians in Gaza, as images of malnourished children circulate globally.

The move signals a marked shift in Trump’s recent stance on the crisis, as international criticism of Israel’s military campaign and restrictions on aid delivery continues to mount.

Speaking from Scotland alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said, “I want [Netanyahu] to make sure they get the food. We have to help on a humanitarian basis before we do anything.”

He also confirmed that the US intends to set up food distribution centers in Gaza, though he provided no further details and the White House has not released additional information.

Trump’s remarks came after the Israeli military initiated limited airdrops of food and began implementing daily pauses in fighting to facilitate aid distribution, following growing international outrage over starvation and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

While Trump noted that Hamas has intercepted aid shipments, he also emphasized that “Israel has a lot of responsibility” for the ongoing shortages.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi addressed Trump directly in a televised speech, urging him to use US influence to end the war and expedite humanitarian relief. “Please, make every effort to stop this war and deliver the aid,” Sissi said.

Trump stopped short of taking a firm position on the question of Palestinian statehood—a topic also raised during the visit, as Starmer reiterated the UK’s support for a two-state solution, provided it is part of a broader peace process.

The issue is at the center of ongoing debates at the United Nations, where high-level officials are meeting this week to discuss the future of Israel-Palestine relations; both Israel and the US are boycotting the talks.

US Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s concerns in Ohio, stating, “Israel’s got to do more to let that aid in,” while reaffirming support for efforts to defeat Hamas and remove obstacles to humanitarian access.

Trump’s renewed focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza marks a significant turn in his public messaging, as both domestic and international pressure for a ceasefire and expanded aid grows.