Trump says US will provide food aid to Gaza to ensure it doesn't fall into hands of Hamas
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
President Donald Trump stated that the US would help provide some food to the people of Gaza, where famine is currently being observed, reports CNN.
“We’re gonna help the people of Gaza get some food. People are starving, and we’re gonna help them get some food,” Trump said.
He emphasized that many aid deliveries are poorly handled because the Hamas group takes everything that is brought into the Palestinian enclave.
“A lot of people are making it very, very bad. If you look, Hamas is making it impossible because they’re taking everything that’s brought in, but we’re gonna help the people of Gaza because they’re being treated very badly by Hamas,” the US President added.
What preceded this
In March, after two months of ceasefire, hostilities resumed between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Furthermore, Israel imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid supplies, refusing to allow even a single truck carrying humanitarian or commercial goods to enter. The country claims it blocked aid to pressure Hamas and free hostages. Meanwhile, several international organizations accused Israel of using hunger as a tool of war.
According to a CNN source, US and Israeli officials are currently discussing a mechanism for delivering aid to Gaza, bypassing Hamas. The announcement may be made in the coming days.
A State Department representative explained that this delivery mechanism would ensure aid reaches the Palestinian population with guarantees that it will not be redirected to Hamas or the Islamic Jihad.
CNN notes that the number of cases of acute malnutrition among children in Gaza is rapidly rising, which is a clear sign of the impending hunger. According to the UN, in March, approximately 3,700 children were diagnosed, which is an 82% increase from February.
