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Donald Trump has said Israel will “have to make a decision” about its next steps in the Gaza war, as aid officials warn that the coming days are “make or break” for starving Gazans.
"They don't want to give them back, and so Israel is going to have to make a decision," Mr Trump said after the collapse of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
"I know what I'd do, but I don't think it's appropriate that I say it,” he added.
It comes as a temporary pause in Israel’s military action from 10am to 8pm each day is set to allow more aid to be delivered to starving Palestinians.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher told the BBC that the halt in action in three areas of Gaza may only last “a week or so” - but that the UN needs “weeks, months to build up supplies again”.
Aid blockades in recent months caused fatal levels of starvation to tear through the enclave. Israel says the blockade is to prevent Hamas stealing aid from trucks, but internal US government analysis found no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of US-funded humanitarian supplies, Reuters reported.
Donald Trump has said the US will increase aid to Gaza, and on Monday is due to discuss the topic during a meeting with British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland.
UN aid chief: Next days are 'make or break' for Palestinians in Gaza
The UN’s aid chief Tom Fletcher has said the days ahead are “make or break”, after Israel said it would pause its military offensive in parts of Gaza for 10 hours each day.
From 10am to 8pm, Israel said it would halt operations in Al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City, to allow increased aid flow. Complete and partial aid blockades in recent months caused fatal levels of starvation to tear through the enclave.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian and air chief, told the BBC that the halt in action in three areas of Gaza may only last “a week or so” - but that the UN needs “weeks, months to build up supplies again”.
The agency has the capacity to reach every person in Gaza, he said, but only if given enough time.
More than 100 Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to Palestinian health officials in the enclave, with aid groups warning of mass hunger.
Alex Croft28 July 2025 10:31
Trump: Israel will 'have to make a decision' on Gaza
Donald Trump said on Sunday that Israel would have to make a decision on next steps in Gaza, adding he did not know what would happen after the collapse of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
"They don't want to give them back, and so Israel is going to have to make a decision," Mr Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland.
"I know what I'd do, but I don't think it's appropriate that I say it. But Israel is going to have to make a decision," he said, while also claiming, without evidence, that Hamas was stealing food coming into Gaza and selling it.
The US president added that Washington would provide more aid to the Palestinian enclave devastated by US ally Israel's military assault.
Alex Croft28 July 2025 10:23
Israeli forces kill 63 Palestinians in Gaza within hours of ‘humanitarian pause’, health officials say
The Israeli military killed at least 63 people across Gaza just hours after declaring daily “pauses” in operations to facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid, health officials said.
The military said on Sunday it would suspend operations daily from 10am until 8pm in parts of central and northern Gaza, including al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City, and promised to open aid corridors from 6am to 11pm to let in food and medical supplies.
However, within hours of the so-called “humanitarian pause” taking effect, Israeli forces resumed air raids. One reported strike targeted a bakery in an area designated as a “safe zone”, according to Al Jazeera.
Alex Croft28 July 2025 10:20
