The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) praised the Trump administration for recognizing that people are starving in Gaza as the conference called for further humanitarian aid for the region.
“I commend President Trump for acknowledging that starvation is happening in Gaza, especially affecting children, and I urge him to demand the immediate expansion of humanitarian assistance through all channels in Gaza,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, in a statement released on Thursday, July 31.
Bishop Zaidan is the leader of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, an Eastern-Catholic Maronite diocese.
“As the world watches in horror the heart-rending images of starvation in Gaza, I call on Catholics and all men and women of good will to ardently pray for the alleviation of the suffering of the Gazan people — a crisis already ranked as one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the 21st century," said Bishop Zaidan.
He continued, "Pope Leo XIV has often reiterated his ‘heartfelt appeal for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages, and for the full respect for humanitarian law’ in Gaza, and I add my voice and prayers to that of our Holy Father."
Bishop Zaidan also expressed "heartfelt solidarity" with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarch of Jerusalem, and the other Christians who are living in the Holy Land.
"Let us pray that the Holy Spirit, creator and vivifier, may infuse fraternal love into the hearts and minds of peoples of all faiths living in the lands of our Lord’s life, death, and glorious resurrection," he said.
"Look very hungry"
Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump refuted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that there was no starvation happening in Gaza.
When asked if he agreed with Netanyahu, Trump replied, "I don’t know. Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry.”
He later said there is "real starvation" happening.
"I see it and you can’t fake that. So we’re going to be even more involved," said Trump.
The president additionally said that he wanted to "make sure they get the food. I want to make sure they get the food, every ounce of food.”
