US: Ben Gvir call to bomb Gaza food warehouses ‘completely contradicts’ our effort to get aid into Strip

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce appears to criticize National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s call for the IDF to bomb food storage facilities in Gaza in order to pressure Hamas to release Israeli hostages.

Asked during a press briefing whether the Trump administration backs the idea, which Ben Gvir said is supported by senior Republicans he met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort this week, Bruce initially says that she won’t comment on the matter as the far-right Israeli leader’s claim is unconfirmed.

But then she says that the proposal is “in complete contradiction to the nature of our commitment to getting food aid and assistance” into Gaza.

“My goodness, the work over these 100 days to get that first ceasefire to get that aid into that area, it’s difficult,” she adds.

It was unclear whether the rare public criticism of an Israeli official by the Trump administration was intentional, as Bruce subsequently stressed that she would not further comment on Ben Gvir’s remarks.

“What I will do is reiterate, certainly, our commitment to Israel, our commitment to creating a better framework in Gaza, stopping the slaughter, getting aid and food in — that has been a north star for this administration,” Bruce continues.

Asked whether that means the US is adopting the Israeli position that aid will only be allowed to resume if a new hostage release and ceasefire deal is reached, Bruce declines to answer.

She then reads what appears to be a prepared and vetted statement from the administration.

“The United States supports the flow of humanitarian aid with safeguards to ensure assistance is not diverted, looted or misused by terrorist groups such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” Bruce states.

The talking point notably avoids directly criticizing Israel on the matter.