The U.S. State Department acknowledged Tuesday that humanitarian aid to Gaza remains insufficient, and said President Donald Trump is preparing additional steps to address the deepening humanitarian crisis.
“Of course, under President Trump’s leadership, as he emphasized yesterday, (the U.S.) will do even more in terms of food assistance and other resources,” spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said at a news conference.
Bruce said a new aid plan, which includes increased food distribution to Gazans, would be unveiled soon, calling it a continuation of this administration’s policy to provide greater humanitarian access in the face of reports of widespread famine, according to AA.
“Our focus, of course, is on what’s happening on the ground – to increase the flow of aid and to achieve a ceasefire, which has not yet been achieved because Hamas refuses to do so,” Bruce said.
President Trump said on Monday that food centers would be set up in Gaza “where people can come in without restrictions,” publicly acknowledging that “there is real hunger” in the besieged enclave.
Israel has had a blockade on Gaza for 18 years, and since March 2 closed all border crossings, preventing humanitarian aid from entering and further worsening the already dire conditions for the 2.4 million people.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 147 people, including 88 children, have died of hunger since October 2023.
The Israeli military, ignoring international calls for a ceasefire, has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October. The relentless bombing has devastated the enclave and caused a deep hunger crisis.
