US President Donald Trump has suggested that although Israel might be gaining ground militarily in Gaza, its image abroad is suffering. He remarked that Israel’s lobby has been “hurt” in terms of public relations.
Speaking to the Daily Caller, Trump said he was “surprised” that Israel no longer holds the sway in Congress it once did. “If you go back 20 years, I will tell you, Israel had the strongest lobby in the Congress of anything or body I’ve ever seen,” he recalled.
The former president pointed out that at one point, politicians dared not “speak badly (about Israel), if you wanted to be a politician.” He also emphasized that Israel used to have “total control over Congress” about 15 years ago, which is no longer the case. “I’m a little surprised to see that,” he noted.
Reflecting on the Hamas assault on October 7, Trump described it as a “truly horrible day.” He urged Israel to “get that war over with,” arguing the conflict is damaging the country. “They may be winning the war, but they’re not winning the world of public relations, and it is hurting them. But Israel was the strongest lobby 15 years ago that there has ever been, and now it’s been hurt, especially in Congress,” he added.
Trump nevertheless reiterated his own backing for Israel, saying he enjoys “good support” from the country and called it “amazing.” He argued no other US leader has done more for Israel than he has, citing action against Iran. “We, that plane, wiped them (Iran) out like nobody ever saw before,” Trump said, referring to American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day conflict involving Israel.
On the same day, British foreign secretary David Lammy condemned Israel’s handling of aid access to Gaza. Expressing “outrage,” Lammy said the UK would contribute an additional £15 million ($20 million) to medical assistance in Gaza and surrounding areas. He explained that London is working to transfer critically ill children from Gaza to receive specialized care in Britain.
“This is not a natural disaster, it’s a manmade famine in the 21st century,” Lammy said, adding he is “outraged by the Israeli government’s refusal to allow in sufficient aid.” He further argued that Israel’s reputation is “diminishing in the eyes of young people across the globe who look at this with horror.”
Lammy stressed that only a “massive humanitarian response” could prevent further loss of life after UN warnings of famine in Gaza’s largest city.
Meanwhile, Egypt denounced Israel’s decision to widen its operations in Gaza, accusing it of ignoring international law and calls for de-escalation. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Israel’s rejection of proposals from Egypt and Qatar demonstrated its unwillingness to pursue peace or reduce hostilities in the region.
