Trump Presses Netanyahu to Allow Gaza Humanitarian Aid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump revealed he urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to allow urgent food and medical aid into Gaza amid worsening humanitarian conditions. Trump’s intervention comes as aid agencies report critical shortages. Israel has so far limited supplies pending the release of hostages by Hamas.
Trump Gaza Aid Request Quick Looks
- Trump told Netanyahu: “We’ve got to be good to Gaza.”
- No humanitarian aid has entered Gaza since March 2, 2025.
- Trump emphasized urgent needs for food and medicine access.
- Netanyahu reportedly responded positively to Trump’s push.
- World Food Programme says Gaza food stocks are exhausted.
- European powers criticize Israel’s blockade as “intolerable.”
- Israeli internal debates intensify over resuming humanitarian aid.
- The Gaza war continues following Hamas’ October 2023 attack.
Trump Presses Netanyahu to Allow Gaza Humanitarian Aid
Deep Look
Trump Pushes Netanyahu to Open Gaza for Food, Medicine Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — As humanitarian conditions in Gaza reach critical levels, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed Friday that he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow urgent food and medical aid into the blockaded Palestinian territory.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, Trump said he raised the issue directly with Netanyahu during a phone call earlier in the week.
“Gaza came up, and I said, ‘We’ve got to be good to Gaza. Those people are suffering,’” Trump said. “We’re going to take care of them. There’s a very big need for food and medicine, and we’re taking care of it.”
Pressed further, Trump confirmed that he is actively pushing Israel to reopen access points to humanitarian supplies. “We are. We’re working on it,” he said, adding that Netanyahu “felt well about it.”
Critical Shortages and International Concern
The situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating. No aid — either humanitarian or commercial — has entered the Strip since Israel closed all crossings following the end of the first phase of a ceasefire on March 1.
On Friday, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced it had exhausted its food stocks in Gaza, warning that charity-run kitchens would run out of food within days.
“Hunger is spreading in Gaza, malnutrition is deepening, injured people remain untreated — people are dying,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
Israel initially halted aid deliveries demanding the release of all hostages still held by Hamas following the militant group’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 others, according to Israeli tallies.
Mounting International Pressure
European powers are intensifying pressure on Israel. Germany, France, and Britain issued a joint statement Wednesday describing the ongoing blockade as “intolerable” and warning of “an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease, and death.”
Israel rejected the statement, calling it “ethically outrageous,” while insisting that any resumption of aid must be carefully managed to prevent supplies from falling into Hamas hands.
Reports from Israel’s security cabinet reveal deep internal debates over humanitarian access. Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned ministers that aid distribution would be necessary soon, prompting sharp arguments from far-right officials like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“If you are not capable [of ensuring aid does not reach Hamas], we will find someone who is,” Smotrich reportedly told military leaders.
The Israeli government now faces a delicate balance: alleviating suffering among Gaza civilians while trying to prevent Hamas from exploiting aid deliveries.
Trump’s Shift From Biden-Era Policy
Trump’s intervention marks a noticeable shift from his prior avoidance of publicly engaging on Gaza humanitarian concerns, which had become a frequent flashpoint between Netanyahu and President Biden’s administration.
In contrast to the Biden White House, which openly clashed with Israel over aid restrictions, Trump framed his appeal to Netanyahu in more personal, pragmatic terms.
“We’ve got to be good to Gaza,” Trump repeated, emphasizing a humanitarian imperative without threatening political consequences for Israel.
Trump’s remarks came hours after the WFP confirmed that more than seven weeks without resupply has devastated Gaza’s already fragile food systems. Recent reports also describe desperate Gazans raiding flour warehouses as supplies dwindle.
While Israel denies that full-fledged famine conditions have emerged, officials admit that warehouses could be entirely empty within 40-50 days if closures persist.
What Comes Next?
Internal Israeli reports suggest the government is preparing to resume limited aid deliveries under tighter controls, aiming to stave off international legal challenges and humanitarian disaster.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s team continues pressing Israeli counterparts to act swiftly. U.S. officials hinted that Trump’s team is working behind the scenes to set up safe corridors for food and medical aid.
For Gaza’s civilian population, already devastated by more than 51,300 reported deaths according to Gaza health authorities, the need for aid is immediate and desperate.
Trump’s rare direct intervention on Gaza underscores not only the scale of the unfolding humanitarian crisis but also the broader geopolitical stakes involved as Israel’s war against Hamas continues to reshape the region.
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