Gaza latest: Trump says Palestinians facing ‘real starvation’ as Israeli rights groups accuse Israel of genocide – UK Times

US president Donald Trump said on Monday that he is “not particularly convinced” by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that there is no starvation in Gaza, adding: “Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry.”

Later, Trump asserted there was “real starvation” in the territory, saying: “You can’t fake that”, and pledged to set up “food centres” in Gaza amid growing global outrage over the humanitarian crisis.

Israel has denied widespread famine, calling the images of emaciated children misleading or isolated, but has begun daily 10-hour pauses in fighting to allow more aid to enter by land and air.

French and Saudi foreign ministers have opened a two-day UN meeting on a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict, highlighting what they called “a growing international consensus” for a non-military solution.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted that the large attendance reflected global consensus to end the war in Gaza.

His Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan called it a “historic stage” to not only end the conflict but also to advance a two-state solution.

US president Donald Trump has said many people are starving in Gaza and suggested Israel could do more on humanitarian access.

As the death toll from two years of war in Gaza nears 60,000, a growing number of people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say. Images of starving children have shocked the world and fuelled international criticism of Israel.

Mr Trump’s assessment put him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Sunday denied there was starvation in Gaza and vowed to fight on against the Palestinian militant group Hamas – a statement he repeated on Monday.

Mr Trump, speaking during a visit to Scotland, said Israel had a lot of responsibility for aid flows, and that a lot of people could be saved.

When as loyal an ally as Mr Trump cannot bring himself to endorse Mr Netanyahu’s astonishing claim, there is not much the Israeli prime minister can hope for from international sympathy.

The European Commission has recommended curbing Israeli access to its flagship research funding programme after calls from EU countries to increase pressure on Israel over the humanitarian crisis.

EU countries said last week that Israel was not living up to its commitments under an agreement with the European Union on increasing aid supplies to Gaza, and asked the commission to put concrete options on the table.

The proposal to partially suspend Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe programme needs approval from a qualified majority of EU countries to take effect – at least 15 of the EU’s 27 members, representing at least 65% of its population.

“While Israel has announced a daily humanitarian pause in Gaza fighting and has met some of its commitments under the common understanding on humanitarian aid and access, the situation remains severe,” the commission said.

Germany will immediately launch an airlift to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza as it considers stepping up pressure on Israel over the “catastrophic” situation in the enclave, chancellor Friedrich Merz has said.

Germany, together with the United States, has long remained one of Israel’s staunchest allies and largest arms suppliers.

The German security cabinet convened for more than two hours on Monday to discuss the situation, Mr Merz said.

While it welcomed Israel’s announcement of a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza as an “important first step”, it agreed more must follow.

President Trump has vowed the US will set up food centres to feed starving people in Gaza.

“We’re going to set up food centres,” he said on a visit to Scotland.

The centres would have no fences or boundaries, he pledged, and the US would also work with other countries to provide more humanitarian assistance, including food and sanitation.

Israel had a lot of responsibility for aid flows, the president insisted.

Sir Keir Starmer has presented a UK-led peace plan for the Middle East to Donald Trump as he met the US president in Scotland.

The Prime Minister started work on a plan with France and Germany over the weekend after an emergency call with the two countries’ leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz.

His official spokesman had said earlier that he planned to share details with key allies, including Arab states, in the coming days.

Downing Street said the two reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire to pave the way for peace.

“The Prime Minister welcomed the president’s efforts to secure this, and shared the plans he is working on with other European leaders to bring about a lasting peace,” a No 10 spokesperson said.

Sir Keir described the situation in Gaza as an “absolute catastrophe” as he appeared alongside Mr Trump.

The British public is “revolted” at scenes of desperation in the Palestinian territory, he said.