WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is actively working on a plan to deliver urgently needed food and medical aid to Palestinians in Gaza, as the humanitarian crisis in the enclave continues to deepen under Israeli-imposed restrictions.
“We want to help people. We want to help them live. We want to get people fed. It’s something that should have happened a long time ago,” Trump told Axios in a brief phone interview.
His remarks come amid growing international concern over famine conditions in Gaza, where parachute-dropped aid in areas like az-Zawaida in Deir al-Balah has become a lifeline for many residents. Humanitarian groups warn that severe shortages of food, water, and medicine are pushing the population to the brink of catastrophe.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited aid distribution sites this week operated by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Trump said he had not yet received a full briefing on the visit but praised Witkoff’s efforts, saying he’s “doing great work.”
The president has previously acknowledged the gravity of the situation. “It’s terrible what’s occurring there,” Trump said Thursday. “People are very hungry.”
The visit comes amid criticism of how humanitarian aid is being managed and distributed in Gaza. Some Palestinian groups argue that the current aid model risks exacerbating displacement and exposes civilians to extreme danger. According to local sources, more than 1,300 Palestinians have reportedly been killed while attempting to access aid supplies since May.
Since the start of Israel’s military campaign on October 7, 2023, over 60,000 Palestinians — including large numbers of women and children — have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. At least 154 deaths, including 89 children, have been attributed to hunger-related causes alone.
Widespread destruction from ongoing Israeli airstrikes has left much of Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins, further complicating the delivery of aid and the survival of those trapped inside the besieged territory.
