Hamas accuses Trump of backing 'Israel’s' starvation campaign in Gaza

Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq issued a scathing statement on Friday, condemning US President Donald Trump for echoing 'Israeli' accusations that the group is stealing and selling humanitarian aid intended for civilians in Gaza.

“Trump never tires of repeating Israeli accusations and lies — and we will never tire of rejecting and refuting them,” Rishq declared, denouncing the president’s claims as baseless and misleading.

Rishq insisted that allegations of aid theft by Hamas have been repeatedly disproven, citing findings from international bodies, including the United Nations. He also referenced a recent internal investigation by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which found no evidence that Hamas was intercepting or diverting humanitarian supplies.

Read more: No proof Hamas stole US-funded aid in Gaza, says USAID study

“These allegations absolve the criminal and place blame on the victim,” he said, accusing Trump of spreading misinformation to shield 'Israel' from responsibility for what he described as “systematic starvation and genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

According to Rishq, the crisis in Gaza is a result of 'Israeli' policies backed by Washington, including the use of food and medicine as tools of war against more than two million people under siege.

He urged the US administration to “stop viewing the situation through Israeli eyes” and to assume what he described as its moral and legal responsibilities. Rishq called on Washington to denounce the blockade, stop shielding 'Israel' diplomatically, and support the unconditional entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

He also rejected the use of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as a distribution channel, claiming it is being used as a trap for those in desperate need. “Aid must be distributed through the United Nations,” he emphasized.