President Donald Trump said Friday that many people in Gaza are starving, as Israeli airstrikes intensified across the territory and aid agencies reported worsening conditions.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi at the end of a Middle East tour, Trump acknowledged the deepening humanitarian crisis but did not give details about what steps the United States would take.
The current war in Gaza reignited in March after a two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed. Since then, Israel has reimposed a strict blockade, cutting off food, fuel, and aid. Aid groups say this has left thousands in Gaza without access to basic needs. Trump said his administration is “looking at Gaza” and promised the situation “will be taken care of,” without outlining a timeline or strategy.
Dozens of airstrikes hit Gaza overnight Thursday into Friday, with the local civil defense agency reporting at least 74 people killed since midnight. Rescue teams said many more were still buried beneath rubble. Footage from the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia showed chaotic scenes of injured civilians and grieving families. Blood covered the floors as medics treated survivors.
The airstrikes have caused widespread panic in northern Gaza. Residents described nights of relentless bombing and said they live in fear of sudden death. One woman said she woke to explosions and ran outside to find body parts and blood in the street. Another resident said he hadn’t slept in days because of the constant danger.
Israel has defended the strikes as part of its military campaign against Hamas, which began last October after the group launched a deadly attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians. More than 50,000 people in Gaza have died since the start of the war, according to local health officials.
Hamas still holds dozens of hostages from the October attack. Israel has linked the blockade to efforts to pressure Hamas to release them. However, the group insists that allowing humanitarian aid back into Gaza is the basic condition for any negotiations. In response to Trump’s earlier suggestion that Gaza could become a “freedom zone” under international control, Hamas said the territory is “not for sale.”
Within Israel, there is division over how to proceed. Families of hostages say the government risks missing a rare chance for progress with Trump actively engaged in the region. One group called the president’s visit a “historic opportunity” for diplomacy. Another group, however, has urged Israeli leaders to intensify military operations and maintain full pressure on Gaza.
Meanwhile, the United Nations says the humanitarian situation is rapidly declining. About 70 percent of Gaza is now under evacuation orders or considered off-limits by Israeli forces. Food, water, fuel, and medicine are all running low. The World Health Organization has warned that hospitals are barely functioning, and clean drinking water is nearly gone.
Despite mounting international concern, there is no clear path forward. Trump’s comments signal growing U.S. attention, but the lack of a concrete plan has left many uncertain about what comes next. As bombs continue to fall and families mourn their dead, the crisis in Gaza deepens by the day.