Israel escalates war in Gaza; Trump keeps focus on Ukraine

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Trump’s quip about building a “Riviera of the Middle East” in Gaza emboldened far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition to argue for Israel taking over the Gaza Strip, Shapiro said. And Trump held back criticism on Israel’s decision in March to impose a food blockade.

“He failed to use the momentum of successful Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear program as a pathway to declare victory,” Shapiro continued. “And now, he expresses no concern over an ill-founded and, many fear, ill-fated expanded Israeli military campaign. He has seemingly endorsed it.”

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With the declaration of famine in Gaza Governorate on Friday, by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), humanitarian experts are urging U.S. intervention to push off Netanyahu’s planned offensive in the area.

“The United States, Israel’s closest ally, also bears direct responsibility for failing to utilize its diplomatic and military leverage to demand an unconditional surge of humanitarian aid,” Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International, said in a statement.

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https://thehill.com/policy/international/5466145-trump-netanyahu-gaza-war-famine/