'As far as the rest of it, I really can't say. That's going to be pretty much up to Israel,' president says
US President Donald Trump declined to take a position on whether the United States would support a full Israeli reoccupation of the Gaza Strip while emphasizing ongoing American-led humanitarian efforts in the enclave.
"As far as the rest of it, I really can't say. That's going to be pretty much up to Israel," Trump told reporters Tuesday when asked whether he would support Israel reoccupying all of Gaza.
Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided, with US backing, to push ahead with a full-scale reoccupation of Gaza, targeting areas believed to hold Israeli captives.
The US is "there now trying to get people fed," Trump said, adding the country gave $60 million to supply food for the people of Gaza.
"I know Israel is going to help us with that in terms of distribution...We also have the Arab states (which) are going to help us with that, in terms of the money and possibly distribution. So that's what I'm focused on," he said.
Israeli officials said Netanyahu will convene a meeting of political and military leaders Tuesday to discuss “options” for Gaza after the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with the Palestinian group Hamas.
The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 61,000 Palestinians, almost half of them women and children.
Israel’s military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
