Trump, Starmer Urge Ceasefire, US to Open Food Centers in Gaza

Ceasefire, Gaza, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, Hamas
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Turnberry (TDI): Amid worsening hunger in Gaza, US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Washington will set up “food centers” across the besieged strip, aiming to address what he called an “urgent humanitarian emergency.”

Speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a joint press conference at Trump Turnberry in Scotland, President Trump said the centers would be open-access. “There will be no fences, no barriers. People can come in freely and get the food they need,” he told reporters.

While Trump did not signal any shift in his position on Palestinian statehood, he said feeding the people of Gaza was the top priority. “You’ve got thousands starving,” he said. “We’re providing food, we’ve committed $60 million so far in humanitarian assistance. But other countries need to step up too.”

The announcement comes after Trump spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the weekend, where he says she assured him that European nations are prepared to substantially increase their aid contributions.

Read More: Trump, Starmer Discuss Gaza Amid New Israeli Strikes

UK Prime Minister Starmer, in his remarks, backed the US-led initiative and said both he and Trump agreed that a ceasefire is urgently needed in Gaza. “It’s a catastrophe. What people are watching unfold is simply intolerable,” Starmer said, adding that the UK will work with allies to accelerate aid delivery and pressure Israel to allow safe access.

Asked about Palestinian statehood, Trump said he was not ready to take a position, steering the focus instead to the immediate need for food and aid.

He did, however, criticize Hamas for refusing to release more hostages and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider Israel’s current approach. “I told Bibi, maybe you need to do it a different way,” he said, referencing prior discussions between the two leaders.

Trump’s comments echoed earlier statements he made in which he stopped short of outlining what that “different way” might be but stressed that getting aid in and hostages out was the urgent need.

Read More: Buckingham Palace Confirms Trump’s September State Visit

Hamas has said it’s willing to release hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement, but recent negotiations have stalled. A US-backed proposal was submitted last week in Doha, but Israel withdrew its delegation shortly after Hamas responded.

Trump hinted at the complexity of the talks, stating on Sunday, “I know what I’d do, but I’m not going to say it publicly.”

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Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.