Trump Slams Netanyahu’s Denial as Gaza Starves: “Those Children Look Very Hungry”

“Those children look very hungry” Trump’s raw words cut through the politics of Gaza’s humanitarian disaster

Reality vs. Rhetoric: Gaza’s Starvation Debate Hits the Global Stage

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confidently declared that “there is no starvation in Gaza,” former U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown cold water on that claim. Speaking with reporters during a visit to the UK, Trump contradicted Israel’s narrative, pointing to televised images of malnourished children and bluntly stating: “You can’t fake that. That’s real starvation.”

His comments mark a sharp deviation from the usual lockstep American political support for Israel. While he didn’t absolve Hamas or other actors from blame, calling the entire situation in Gaza a “mess”, Trump’s blunt assessment was clear: humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza cannot be denied away with political spin.

Reporter: Netanyahu said there is no starvation in Gaza. Do you agree with him?

Trump: I don’t know. Based on television, I would say not particularly pic.twitter.com/tSkGClKhc4

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 28, 2025

A Humanitarian Crisis Caught on Camera

For months, international aid agencies have sounded the alarm. Food is scarce. Clean water is limited. Medical supplies are running out. And with Israel’s tight blockade on Gaza’s borders, aid is trickling in far too slowly to prevent what the UN describes as “catastrophic levels of hunger.”

The United Nations has reported that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while trying to access food at aid distribution sites. Meanwhile, satellite images, frontline reports, and now Trump’s own remarks have intensified global scrutiny of Israel’s role in what is being called a starvation crisis.

“Not Particularly” a Lie

Trump was asked point-blank if he agreed with Netanyahu’s recent comment that it’s a “bold-faced lie” to accuse Israel of fueling hunger. Trump’s response was characteristically unfiltered: “Based on television, I would say not particularly. Those children look very hungry.”

While it’s rare for a high-profile American politician, especially a Republican, to undercut an Israeli Prime Minister so directly, Trump didn’t stop there. “We’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food,” he said. “And other nations are stepping up, I know that this nation [Scotland] is.”

A Mess with No Clear Winners

Meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump didn’t shy away from broader criticism either. “Nobody’s done anything great over there. The whole place is a mess… I told Israel maybe they have to do it a different way.”

It’s a far cry from Trump’s typically pro-Israel stance. But the remarks reflect a growing discomfort in parts of the global community, including among some of Israel’s closest allies, about the conduct and consequences of the war in Gaza.

What the Numbers Show

The humanitarian toll of this war is staggering. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 59,921 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, most of them civilians. On the Israeli side, 1,219 lives were lost in the October 7 Hamas attacks, which sparked this latest round of bloodshed.

But as the body count rises and children’s frail faces fill TV screens and social media timelines, international patience is wearing thin.

Public Reaction: Shock, Frustration, and Fatigue

Social media lit up after Trump’s comments aired. In South Africa and the UK, many users praised him for “finally saying what needs to be said.” One Johannesburg-based user posted: “It’s strange when Trump sounds more human than Netanyahu.” Others questioned why more Western leaders remain silent in the face of evidence that starvation is being used as a weapon of war.

In Israel, Trump’s comments were met with pushback from government-aligned voices, but even some Israeli analysts acknowledged the potential fallout. “When someone like Trump contradicts Netanyahu on Gaza, it sends a message,” said one former Israeli diplomat.

A Moment of Clarity, or Just Another Soundbite?

Whether Trump’s remarks will shift the political landscape is uncertain. But in a crisis where starvation is debated as policy, a blunt voice saying “those children look very hungry” cuts deeper than diplomatic platitudes.

Sometimes, it takes the politically unfiltered to state the obvious and remind the world that no narrative, no matter how polished, can cover up the aching ribs of a starving child.

{Source: The Citizen}

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