In his remarks, Trump stated: “We’re trying to feed the people there… as for the rest, I can’t really say. It will be largely up to Israel.” He declined to elaborate further when asked directly whether he supported or opposed an Israeli occupation. Reuters later reported that Israel and Arab partners would also assist in the logistics of food and aid distribution, though Trump did not specify timelines or amounts.

The comments mark a shift from earlier in the year when Trump controversially suggested the U.S. could itself take over Gaza—a proposal that was widely condemned by human rights organizations, Arab governments, the United Nations, and Palestinian officials.

Israeli Moves And Global Legal Fallout

The latest statement came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held high-level security consultations about asserting full military control over Gaza. Several Israeli media outlets noted that Netanyahu favored this course of action, though Israeli military leadership has expressed reservations.

The war, now approaching its second anniversary, has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly the entire population of the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian agencies warn of famine, and legal bodies have taken notice. Israel faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice and separate war crimes accusations at the International Criminal Court. Israeli officials deny all charges, framing the offensive as self-defense in response to Hamas’s October 2023 attacks, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in over 250 hostages.