President Trump’s foreign policy focus is shifting towards Russia and Ukraine amid global outrage over Israel’s plans to launch a major offensive in the Gaza Strip and a declaration of famine on Friday, which underscores the catastrophic suffering of Palestinians. Trump has backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to launch a major offensive to take over the strip’s capital, Gaza City, despite earlier concerns over “starving” Palestinians and discussing the U.S. taking control of the main food distribution effort. Aid groups are pleading with the U.S. to exercise its influence to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis, where over half a million people face starvation. Israelis advocating for a ceasefire deal to secure the release of at least 20 living and 30 deceased hostages are begging for Trump to turn his attention to the Middle East. Trump’s top envoy for peace, Steve Witkoff, has not signaled a return to talks that he left in late July, saying that Hamas is the obstacle to peace.
The declaration of famine in Gaza Governorate by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has prompted humanitarian experts to urge U.S. intervention to push off Israeli President Netanyahu’s planned offensive in the area. The IPC warns that famine will spread into the southern parts of the Gaza Strip by September. Israel has rejected the IPC’s finding of famine, claiming it “forged” its findings. There is still time for a ceasefire deal to take place, but Netanyahu has repeatedly changed his goal posts for a deal. Hamas has accepted an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire deal, which includes a two-month pause in fighting and the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Netanyahu has not signaled backing off the offensive on Gaza City, calling up approximately 60,000 Israeli troops for the massive military undertaking and with no clear end state.
