President Trump on Monday said the European nations need to “step up” and assist with the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He also faulted the Palestinians for not thanking the U.S. for sending millions of dollars of aid into Gaza.
The president’s comments came as he greeted U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Turnberry, Scotland. Both leaders were set to discuss a wide range of issues from their bilateral trade deal to the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza.
When asked about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Mr. Trump defended the U.S. efforts. He said the U.S. forked over millions of dollars of aid with little thanks or assurance that the money was going where it was intended.
“Just a couple of weeks ago, we gave $60 million — that’s a lot of money. No other nation gave money,” Mr. Trump said. “Nobody said, even, thank you, but other nations are going to have to step up.”
Later Monday, Mr. Trump said the U.S. was going to ramp up its efforts in Gaza by setting up “food centers,” but he offered few specifics about the plan.
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“We want to help,” he said, adding, “We have to get the kids fed.”
He said that when he met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, she told him that European nations are “going to step up very substantially.”
Mr. Trump entered Monday’s meeting riding high after announcing a huge trade agreement with the European Union a day earlier. In May, the U.K. became the first country to announce a trade deal with the U.S. following Mr. Trump’s announcement of steep tariffs for virtually all countries.
Ahead of their meeting, Mr. Starmer made it clear that he plans to raise a U.K.-led peace deal for Gaza. The plan was discussed by Mr. Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday. A spokesman for Mr. Starmer said the prime minister will pitch the plan to “the U.S. and Arab states” and at an emergency meeting of his Cabinet later this week. Details of the plan have not been made public.
Mr. Trump said he would not take a position on recognizing a Palestinian state, something Mr. Starmer has floated in recent days.
“I don’t mind him taking a position,” Mr. Starmer said. “I’m looking to get people fed right now. Because you have a lot of starving people.”
Mr. Trump acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where concerns over hunger and starvation deaths mount. Asked if he agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said Sunday that there was no starvation in Gaza, Mr. Trump responded, “Not particularly.”
Mr. Trump said that Israel “has a lot of responsibility” for what is happening in Gaza, but also acknowledged that the country is hampered by considerations of the remaining hostages it wants to see kept alive and freed.
“I think Israel can do a lot,” Mr. Trump said without offering more information.
“Those children look very hungry,” he said, referring to images from Gaza that have been broadcast around the world in recent days. “Nobody wants to see that.”
Mr. Starmer called the situation in Gaza an “absolute catastrophe.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.