Trump says main priority in Gaza is getting people fed
Trump, speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, said the United States had provided $US60 million ($A92 million) for humanitarian aid and other countries would have to step up.
He said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, and she told him European countries would step up their assistance very substantially.
He said he also planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Starmer during his visit on Monday.
"We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up," Trump said.
"It's a mess. They have to get food and safety right now."
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."
Trump said he would not comment on a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to back Palestinian statehood.
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.
"I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way," Trump said, echoing similar comments made on Sunday.
Asked if a ceasefire was still possible, 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.
Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, 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 Thursday at talks in Doha.
Hours later, Israel withdrew its delegation from the talks.
On Sunday, 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 the Gaza Strip and new safe corridors for convoys.
United Nations agencies say those moves are not yet sufficient to alleviate famine-like conditions facing the enclave's residents.
On Monday, 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 the Gaza Strip 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 the Gaza Strip'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," Netanyahu said on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump says the number one priority in the Gaza Strip is 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.
Trump, speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, said the United States had provided $US60 million ($A92 million) for humanitarian aid and other countries would have to step up.
He said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, and she told him European countries would step up their assistance very substantially.
He said he also planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Starmer during his visit on Monday.
"We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up," Trump said.
"It's a mess. They have to get food and safety right now."
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."
Trump said he would not comment on a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to back Palestinian statehood.
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.
"I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way," Trump said, echoing similar comments made on Sunday.
Asked if a ceasefire was still possible, 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.
Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, 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 Thursday at talks in Doha.
Hours later, Israel withdrew its delegation from the talks.
On Sunday, 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 the Gaza Strip and new safe corridors for convoys.
United Nations agencies say those moves are not yet sufficient to alleviate famine-like conditions facing the enclave's residents.
On Monday, 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 the Gaza Strip 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 the Gaza Strip'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," Netanyahu said on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump says the number one priority in the Gaza Strip is 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.
Trump, speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, said the United States had provided $US60 million ($A92 million) for humanitarian aid and other countries would have to step up.
He said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, and she told him European countries would step up their assistance very substantially.
He said he also planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Starmer during his visit on Monday.
"We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up," Trump said.
"It's a mess. They have to get food and safety right now."
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."
Trump said he would not comment on a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to back Palestinian statehood.
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.
"I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way," Trump said, echoing similar comments made on Sunday.
Asked if a ceasefire was still possible, 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.
Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, 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 Thursday at talks in Doha.
Hours later, Israel withdrew its delegation from the talks.
On Sunday, 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 the Gaza Strip and new safe corridors for convoys.
United Nations agencies say those moves are not yet sufficient to alleviate famine-like conditions facing the enclave's residents.
On Monday, 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 the Gaza Strip 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 the Gaza Strip'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," Netanyahu said on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump says the number one priority in the Gaza Strip is 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.
Trump, speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, said the United States had provided $US60 million ($A92 million) for humanitarian aid and other countries would have to step up.
He said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, and she told him European countries would step up their assistance very substantially.
He said he also planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Starmer during his visit on Monday.
"We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up," Trump said.
"It's a mess. They have to get food and safety right now."
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."
Trump said he would not comment on a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to back Palestinian statehood.
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.
"I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way," Trump said, echoing similar comments made on Sunday.
Asked if a ceasefire was still possible, 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.
Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, 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 Thursday at talks in Doha.
Hours later, Israel withdrew its delegation from the talks.
On Sunday, 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 the Gaza Strip and new safe corridors for convoys.
United Nations agencies say those moves are not yet sufficient to alleviate famine-like conditions facing the enclave's residents.
On Monday, 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 the Gaza Strip 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 the Gaza Strip'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," Netanyahu said on Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
28 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Trump sends nuclear subs towards Russia after ‘foolish and inflammatory' threats
US President Donald Trump said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the 'appropriate regions' in response to threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. 'I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,' Trump said in a social media post on Friday that called Medvedev's statements highly provocative. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 'Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.' Trump and Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, traded taunts in recent days after Trump on Tuesday said Russia had '10 days from today' to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or be hit, along with its oil buyers, with tariffs. Trump has expressed mounting frustration with Putin, accusing him of 'bullshit' and describing Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine as 'disgusting' Moscow, which has set out its own terms for peace in Ukraine, has shown no sign that it will comply with Trump's deadline. Medvedev on Monday accused Trump of engaging in a 'game of ultimatums' and reminded him that Russia possessed Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort after Trump told Medvedev to 'watch his words.' Medvedev has emerged as one of the Kremlin's most outspoken anti-Western hawks since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022. Kremlin critics deride him as an irresponsible loose cannon, though some Western diplomats say his statements illustrate the thinking in senior Kremlin policy-making circles. Earlier on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow hoped for more peace talks with Ukraine but that the momentum of the war was in its favour, signalling no shift in his stance despite Washington's threats.. Putin, without referring to the Trump deadline, said three sessions of peace talks with Ukraine had yielded some positive results, and Russia was expecting negotiations to continue. 'As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations. This is a well-known general rule,' he said. 'But in order to approach the issue peacefully, it is necessary to conduct detailed conversations. And not in public, but this must be done calmly, in the quiet of the negotiation process.' He said Russian troops were attacking Ukraine along the entire front line and that the momentum was in their favour, citing the announcement by his Defence Ministry on Thursday that Moscow's forces had captured the Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar after a 16-month battle. Ukraine denied that Chasiv Yar is under full Russian control. Ukraine for months has been urging an immediate ceasefire but Russia says it wants a final and durable settlement, not a pause. Since the peace talks began in Istanbul in May, it has conducted some of its heaviest air strikes of the war, especially on the capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian government has said the Russian negotiators do not have the mandate to take significant decisions and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on Putin to meet him for talks. 'We understand who makes the decisions in Russia and who must end this war. The whole world understands this too,' Zelenskiy said on Friday on X, reiterating his call for direct talks between him and Putin. 'The United States has proposed this. Ukraine has supported it. What is needed is Russia's readiness.' Russia says a leaders' meeting could only take place to set the seal on agreements reached by negotiators. Ukraine and its European allies have frequently said they do not believe Putin is really interested in peace and have accused him of stalling, which the Kremlin denies.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Markets plummet as Trump issues more steep tariffs
US President Donald Trump's latest wave of tariffs on exports from dozens of trading partners sent global stock markets tumbling and countries and companies scrambling to seek ways to strike better deals. As Trump presses ahead with plans to reorder the global economy with the highest tariff rates since the early 1930s, Switzerland, "stunned" by 39 per cent tariffs, sought more talks, as did India, hit with a 25 per cent rate. New tariffs announced on Friday also included a 35 per cent duty on many goods from Canada, 50 per cent for Brazil, 20 per cent for Taiwan, which said its rate was "temporary" and it expected to reach a lower figure. The presidential order listed higher import duty rates of 10 per cent to 41 per cent starting in a week's time for 69 trading partners, taking the US effective tariff rate to about 18 per cent, from 2.3 per cent last year, according to analysts at Capital Economics. US stocks took a hit. By afternoon on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped 1.46 per cent to 43,486.45, the S&P 500 1.8 per cent to 6,225.55 and the Nasdaq Composite 2.42 per cent to 20,610.91. Markets were also reacting to a disappointing jobs report. Data showed US job growth slowed more than expected in July while the prior month's data was revised sharply lower, pointing to a slowdown in the labour market. Global shares stumbled, with Europe's STOXX 600 tumbling 1.89 per cent on the day. Trump's new tariffs have created yet more uncertainty, with many details unclear. They are set to take effect on August 7, a White House official said. Trump administration officials defended the president's approach saying the uncertainty was "critical" for him to be able to leverage a better deal. "The trade deals we've seen over the last few weeks... have been nothing short of monumental," Council of Economic Advisers Chair Stephen Miran said on CNBC. Trump's tariff rollout also comes amid evidence they have begun driving up prices of home furnishings and household equipment. Australian products could become more competitive in the US market, helping businesses boost exports, Trade Minister Don Farrell said, after Trump kept the minimum tariff rate of 10 per cent for Australia. The European Union, which struck a framework deal with Trump on Sunday, is still awaiting more Trump orders to deliver on agreed carve-outs, including on cars and aircraft, EU officials said, saying the latest executive orders did not cover that. Switzerland said it would push for a "negotiated solution" with the US, with industry insiders saying they were "stunned" by the 39 per cent tariffs. South Africa's Trade Minister Parks Tau said he was seeking "real, practical interventions" to defend jobs and the economy against the 30 per cent US tariff it faces. Southeast Asian countries largely breathed a sigh of relief after the US tariffs on their exports that were lower than threatened and leveled the playing field with a rate of about 19 per cent across the region's biggest economies. Thailand's finance minister said a reduction from 36 per cent to 19 per cent would help his country's economy. While India is in talks after being slapped with a 25 per cent tariff, which could impact about $US40 billion ($A62 billion) worth of its exports. Trump issued a separate order for Canada that raises the rate on Canadian goods subject to fentanyl-related tariffs to 35 per cent, from 25 per cent previously, saying Canada had "failed to cooperate" in curbing illicit narcotics flows into the US. This is contrast to his decision to allow Mexico a 90-day reprieve from higher tariffs to allow time to negotiate. Businesses and analysts said the impact of Trump's new trade regime would not be positive for economic growth. "No real winners in trade conflicts," said Thomas Rupf, co-head Singapore and CIO Asia at VP Bank. "Despite some countries securing better terms, the overall impact is negative."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Trump orders nuclear subs after ‘foolish' Russian threats
US President Donald Trump said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the 'appropriate regions' in response to threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. 'I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,' Mr Trump said in a social media post on Friday that called Mr Medvedev's statements highly provocative. 'Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.' Mr Trump and Mr Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, traded taunts in recent days after Mr Trump on Tuesday said Russia had '10 days from today' to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or be hit, along with its oil buyers, with tariffs. Mr Trump has expressed mounting frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of 'bullsh**' and describing Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine as 'disgusting'. US President Donald Trump has ordered two nuclear submarines in response to threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Credit: Truth Social Moscow, which has set out its own terms for peace in Ukraine, has shown no sign that it will comply with Mr Trump's deadline. Mr Medvedev on Monday accused Mr Trump of engaging in a 'game of ultimatums' and reminded him that Russia possessed Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort after Mr Trump told Medvedev to 'watch his words.' Mr Medvedev has emerged as one of the Kremlin's most outspoken anti-Western hawks since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022. Kremlin critics deride him as an irresponsible loose cannon, though some Western diplomats say his statements illustrate the thinking in senior Kremlin policy-making circles. Earlier on Friday, Mr Putin said that Moscow hoped for more peace talks with Ukraine but that the momentum of the war was in its favour, signalling no shift in his stance despite Washington's threats.. Mr Putin, without referring to Mr Trump's deadline, said three sessions of peace talks with Ukraine had yielded some positive results, and Russia was expecting negotiations to continue. 'As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations. This is a well-known general rule,' he said. 'But in order to approach the issue peacefully, it is necessary to conduct detailed conversations. And not in public, but this must be done calmly, in the quiet of the negotiation process.' He said Russian troops were attacking Ukraine along the entire front line and that the momentum was in their favour, citing the announcement by his Defence Ministry on Thursday that Moscow's forces had captured the Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar after a 16-month battle. Ukraine denied that Chasiv Yar is under full Russian control. Ukraine for months has been urging an immediate ceasefire but Russia says it wants a final and durable settlement, not a pause. Since the peace talks began in Istanbul in May, it has conducted some of its heaviest air strikes of the war, especially on the capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian Government has said the Russian negotiators do not have the mandate to take significant decisions and President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Mr Putin to meet him for talks. 'We understand who makes the decisions in Russia and who must end this war. The whole world understands this too,' Mr Zelensky said on Friday on X, reiterating his call for direct talks between him and Mr Putin. 'The United States has proposed this. Ukraine has supported it. What is needed is Russia's readiness.' Russia says a leaders' meeting could only take place to set the seal on agreements reached by negotiators. Ukraine and its European allies have frequently said they do not believe Mr Putin is really interested in peace and have accused him of stalling, which the Kremlin denies.
