Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday evening in Jerusalem that if Israel had not allowed supplies into the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, "there would be no Gazans."
Speaking at an event at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel organized by businessman Niv Yaakobi, president of the "Meaning Channel", Netanyahu addressed claims of famine in Gaza, dismissing them as "completely false."
"There isn't starvation in Gaza," he said in a video clip obtained exclusively by Israel Hayom. "We enable humanitarian aid into Gaza throughout the duration of the war. Otherwise, there would be no Gazans. What is preventing the supply of humanitarian aid is one force: Hamas. Again, this is a reversal of the truth. Hamas robs, steals this humanitarian aid and then accuses Israel for not supplying it."
He added, "We have enabled in the amount required by international law. There are hundreds and hundreds of trucks carrying loaded with tons [of aid]. So far, we have supplied 1.9 million tons of food since the begining of the war, almost two million tons. And now there are hundreds of trucks that are waiting on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing."
The event was attended by Pastor Paula White-Cain, a spiritual advisor to US President Donald Trump and head of the White House Office of Religious Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, who met with Netanyahu and his wife, Sara. The visit was part of a joint Israeli-American initiative spearheaded by Yaakobi to strengthen ties between Israel and Christian communities worldwide.
During her trip, White-Cain is scheduled to visit sites in southern Israel, including communities near the Gaza border and the site of the Nova music festival massacre. She will also hold professional meetings aimed at promoting cooperation between Israel and Christian communities in areas such as tourism, economics, and diplomacy. The visit highlights the significance of the spiritual and political partnership between the two nations, especially during these complex times.
Yaakobi, who initiated the gathering, said: "The relationship between Judaism and Christianity is an example of how people with different beliefs can live together in harmony. A huge thank you to President Trump for establishing the Office of Religious Affairs at the White House and for prioritizing religious freedom, pluralism, and peace, especially in such dark times."
The event was filmed for prime-time broadcast on Daystar, the world's largest Christian television network, and for Fox Digital. It will be aired to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. The event was hosted by Daystar president Joni Lamb, a key figure in the evangelical world, who traveled to Israel especially for the occasion.
During the event, a certificate of recognition was presented to Yael Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, for her work in strengthening ties with Christian communities.
