Trump Promises Gaza Aid, White House Hints at Details Ahead

New Gaza Aid Plan Promised by Trump, But Details Remain Unclear

President Donald Trump has announced plans to establish new “food centers” in the Gaza Strip, aiming to address the growing humanitarian crisis. The White House has stated that more details about the initiative will be released soon, but as of now, the specifics remain vague. This announcement comes amid a broader discussion on how aid is being distributed in the region and the challenges faced by Palestinians.

During a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump described his vision for these food centers. He claimed that people in Gaza would be able to access food without facing physical barriers. “People see the food from thirty yards away… but they’ve got fences set up so nobody can even get it. It’s crazy,” he said. However, Israel has not confirmed whether such a plan is currently being developed.

On Tuesday, Trump was asked when the new food centers would be established. His response was brief: “Very soon.” He also mentioned that his administration had donated $60 million for Gaza aid. This figure appears to reference the $30 million allocated to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), though it remains unclear if the new centers will be connected to the existing ones operated by the GHF.

When questioned about who would manage the food centers, Trump indicated that the U.S. would work closely with Israel. However, Israel has traditionally avoided direct involvement in aid distribution, instead relying on the IDF to secure the perimeters of aid sites. This approach has led to incidents where Palestinians attempting to reach the distribution points have been shot. The IDF claims it only fires at those posing a threat, but the situation has drawn significant criticism, particularly from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which reports over 1,000 Palestinian deaths in such incidents over the past two months.

Trump also emphasized that Israel would ensure proper distribution of aid, stating that the country does not want Hamas to “steal the money or stealing the food.” He expressed concern for the children suffering from hunger, saying, “You see the mothers — they love them so much and there’s just nothing they seem to be able to do. They’ve got to get them food, and we’re going to get them food.”

Despite these statements, the White House has not provided detailed information about the new aid plan. Anna Kelly, the deputy press secretary, told The Times of Israel that the president wants to alleviate suffering in Gaza and that more details would follow. However, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce admitted that she was unaware of the framework for the plan, adding that she was waiting for the president to return before making any further comments.

The U.S. and Israel have been involved in separate negotiations to establish a humanitarian corridor for aid delivery during a potential ceasefire. These talks, however, have faced setbacks, with both nations withdrawing their negotiators from Qatar due to frustration with Hamas's responses to previous proposals. A source involved in mediation efforts suggested that the Cairo talks were progressing, with an agreement that would shift aid distribution away from the GHF while addressing Israeli concerns about aid diversion.

The GHF has faced criticism from international aid organizations, which argue that its method of distributing aid forces Palestinians to walk long distances and often exposes them to IDF fire. While the GHF claims to have distributed roughly 97 million meals in two months, the food provided is primarily dry and requires preparation, which is difficult in a war-torn area with limited resources.

In response to the worsening humanitarian conditions, Israel recently declared a “tactical” pause in military operations in densely populated areas of Gaza. This move aims to facilitate the safe distribution of aid. At the same time, Israel denies using hunger as a weapon of war and accuses Hamas of spreading misinformation. The United Nations has criticized Israeli authorities for refusing requests to collect and distribute aid, citing the dangerous and complex conditions inside Gaza.

As the situation continues to evolve, the promise of new aid initiatives brings hope for relief, but the lack of clarity on implementation raises questions about their effectiveness.