US President Donald Trump says the “fastest” way to bring an end to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza is for Hamas to surrender and release all hostages.
Trump’s Truth Social post on Thursday are a departure from calls led by US allies to recognise a Palestinian state as a solution to peace in the embattled strip.
After the United Kingdom announced its intent to recognise Palestinian sovereignty if Israel failed to accept a ceasefire, Trump said the US had no view on the matter but noted that the country would alleviate the record hunger levels in Gaza.
“We’re going to get a lot of money to the area, so they get some food,” he said on Wednesday.
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“I’m looking for getting people fed right now,” he added, noting that a lot of the children “looked really hungry”.
Trump’s latest remarks also comes as Steve Witkoff, US special envoy, meets with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, in Jerusalem — a week after the US pulled back from Gaza ceasefire talks.
The US had accused Hamas of negotiating in bad faith. Hamas has insisted that it would only release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war.
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Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas gives up power and disarms — a condition the militant group rejects.
