Gaza occupation ‘pretty much up to Israel’: Trump

US President Donald Trump indicated during a press conference on Tuesday that he would not intervene to prevent Israel from occupying Gaza, reflecting his position on the escalating conflict.

When asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had decided to fully occupy Gaza, Trump said his immediate priority was ensuring food supplies for the people living there. “Beyond that, I cannot comment. This is entirely Israel’s issue,” he stated.

The United States provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid each year. Since the Israeli military began operations in Gaza in October 2023, this aid has increased significantly.

In the ongoing conflict, Israel has forcibly relocated Palestinians and steadily reduced their habitable areas. Currently, 86 percent of Gaza is under Israeli military control.

The remaining areas inhabited by Palestinians face daily bombings and severe food shortages, with any Israeli military operations putting civilian lives at grave risk.

Concerns have intensified over Netanyahu’s potential plans for a full occupation of Gaza, especially regarding the safety of Israelis held captive by Hamas and other Palestinian factions.

Miroslav Jenča, a senior United Nations official, warned on Tuesday that a full occupation could have devastating consequences. He underscored that international law remains clear: Gaza is an integral part of any future Palestinian state.

Although Israel withdrew troops and settlements from Gaza in 2005, experts argue that Israel’s continued control of Gaza’s airspace, territorial waters, and entry points means the territory remains legally occupied.

Since the outbreak of war in 2023, right-wing Israeli politicians have called for renewed military presence and settlements in Gaza. Netanyahu has hinted at plans to remove all Palestinians from the territory—a move widely condemned as ethnic cleansing. Earlier this year, Trump expressed support for such plans.

Since October 2023, more than 61,000 people have died in the conflict, with much of Gaza reduced to rubble. The United Nations and human rights organizations have described the situation as genocide.