Speaker’s claims of widespread aid theft by militant group challenged by Israeli military’s own findings.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) addressed the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling images of starving individuals, including children, “disturbing and heartbreaking.” However, he attributed the widespread hunger to Hamas, claiming the militant group has “stolen the food,” despite reports from the Israeli military indicating a lack of proof of systematic aid theft by the group.
During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Speaker Johnson was confronted with visuals depicting the dire situation in Gaza. He was asked about Israel’s recent “tactical pause” in fighting, a move prompted by escalating concerns of mass starvation.
Johnson stated that he had spoken with Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., and other Israeli officials who, he said, informed him that Hamas has pilfered “a huge amount” of food since the conflict began on October 7, 2023.
“The images are disturbing and heartbreaking,” Johnson reiterated, emphasizing a shared desire for peace in the region. He added, “I have spoken to my Ambassador Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and to other Israeli officials. 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.”
Johnson also critiqued “the system” for aid distribution, labeling it “broken.” He announced that the IDF would open “new channels of distribution to get it [food] to those people who are desperately in need” starting the following day. He urged the United Nations to “work with Israel to make sure that the food is getting to the people that need it most.”
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“Meet the Press” Host Kristen Welker challenged Johnson’s assertion, referencing a New York Times article that reported the Israeli military had not found evidence that Hamas systematically stole aid from the United Nations, which serves as the largest provider of emergency assistance to Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has drawn bipartisan concern. Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the Gaza crisis and advocated for an immediate ceasefire, increased aid to the territory, and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
“The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable,” Jeffries stated, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
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