House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the images of people, including children, starving in Gaza “disturbing and heartbreaking,” but insisted that Hamas “has stolen the food,” despite reports from the Israeli military that there is no proof that the Palestinian militant group had systematically stolen aid.
Johnson, during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” was shown images emerging out of Gaza of children starving and was asked about Israel’s decision to enact a “tactical pause” on the fighting amid mass starvation concerns. He noted that Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., and other Israeli officials told him that Hamas has stolen “a huge amount” of food since the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.
“The images are disturbing and heartbreaking,” he said. “We all want peace there in that region.”
“I will tell you that I have spoken to my Ambassador Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and to other Israeli officials,” Johnson added. “This is important to note: Israel, since this war began, has supplied over 94,000 truckloads full of food. It’s enough food to feed 2 million people for two years trying to get that into Gaza. But Hamas has stolen the food, a huge amount.”
He also criticized “the system,” calling it “broken,” adding that beginning tomorrow, the IDF will open “new channels of distribution to get it [food] to those people who are desperately in need.”
“The UN needs to work with Israel to make sure that the food is getting to the people that need it most,” he said.
“Meet the Press” Host Kristen Welker pushed back on Johnson’s claim, citing a New York Times article that reported that the Israeli military never found proof that Hamas systematically stole aid from the United Nations, which is the largest supplier of emergency assistance to Gaza.
Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) criticized President Trump over his handling of Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire, more aid to the territory and the freedom of all hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable,” he said.
