August 9, 2025 | 04:41 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call, expressing anger over the starvation crisis in Gaza caused by an Israeli blockade.
According to a report from NBC News, Trump became upset when Netanyahu attempted to convince him that reports of widespread starvation in Gaza were fabricated and merely Hamas propaganda.
Israeli military actions in Gaza have severely restricted the flow of food, leaving few aid distribution networks operational. In addition to the violence, famine and malnutrition have become a major threat to civilians.
However, Netanyahu publicly denied the crisis. "There is no policy of starvation in Gaza. And there is no starvation in Gaza," he said at an event in Jerusalem on July 27, as cited by NDTV.
A Heated Phone Call
The day after Netanyahu's comments, Trump publicly acknowledged the starvation in Gaza. When asked if Israel was responsible, he stated that he had seen photos of starving children and that the situation was a mess.
In response, Netanyahu requested a private phone call with Trump to downplay the issue, reportedly calling the starvation unreal and a fabrication.
This reportedly angered Trump, who interrupted Netanyahu and yelled that he did not want to hear about fake starvation. Trump also told Netanyahu he had been shown evidence of starving children. Former U.S. officials described the call as largely one-sided.
The Ongoing Gaza Crisis
Israel has been accused of using famine as a weapon of war since the conflict began in October 2023. By the end of July, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger monitoring system, concluded that the worst-case scenario of starvation was occurring in Gaza due to the ongoing blockade.
At the time of publication, the Gaza health ministry reported that more than 160 Palestinians, including children, had died from starvation. Even before the current conflict, which has killed at least 60,000 Palestinians and displaced almost the entire 2.2 million population, Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza's airspace, territorial waters, and most land crossings since 2007.
This has left about 80 percent of the population dependent on aid from the UN and international NGOs. According to the Middle East Eye, Israel has long controlled the entry and exit of people and goods, even attempting to regulate the calorie intake of the population.
Editor’s Choice: Egypt Seeks $35 Billion Gas Deal with Israel Despite Gaza Conflict
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Legislator Warns of Israeli 'Trap' in Plan to Evacuate Gaza Refugees to Indonesia
3 jam lalu
Legislator urge the government to be wary of what he described as a possible "Israeli trap" in the plan to evacuate 2,000 Gaza refugees to Indonesia.
Putin Holds Talks with Xi Jinping Ahead of Meeting with Trump
5 jam lalu
Putin spoke with Xi Jinping about a possible Ukraine settlement and briefed him on US envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Moscow, Beijing said.
Trump's New Tariffs Mark a New Chapter in the Trade War: What to Know
6 jam lalu
President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs, marking a new phase of trade conflict with global impact.
Egypt Seeks $35 Billion Gas Deal with Israel Despite Gaza Conflict
18 jam lalu
Despite Egypt's increasing criticism and frustration over Israel's genocide in Gaza, the two countries continue to make deals considered necessary for Cairo.
Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Plan to Take Over Entire Gaza
19 jam lalu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced a plan to take over the entire Gaza.
Indonesia Awaits Palestine's Approval for Gaza Evacuation Plan
19 jam lalu
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed that the proposal can only proceed after receiving Palestine's formal consent.
Today's Top 3 News: Here's Why the Indonesian Gov't Declared August 18 a Collective Leave Day
20 jam lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Trump Doubles Reward for Arrest of Venezuela's Maduro to $50 Million
21 jam lalu
The Trump administration has accused Venezuela's President Nicols Maduro of being one of the world's largest drug dealers.
Germany Halts Military Exports Potentially Usable by Israel in Gaza
21 jam lalu
This decision represents a significant shift for the German government, which has historically been one of Israel's staunchest international allies.
World Leaders Denounce Israel's Move to Occupy Entire Gaza Strip
22 jam lalu
World leaders have condemned Israel's plans to take control of Gaza City, the last 25 percent of the Gaza Strip that they do not yet control.
