Department Press Briefing – July 24, 2025

2:07 p.m. EDT

MR PIGOTT: Hello, everybody. All right. To begin, a few comments at the top, and then I’ll be happy to take some questions.

So first, a statement from Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Quote: “We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza. It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza.”

This week, the United States is advancing a bold and proactive foreign policy that reflects our enduring commitment to peace and security and prosperity for the American people. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Rigas is traveling to Seoul and Manila to strengthen the department’s operational posture and deepen our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, a region central to America’s strategic and economic interests. His visit builds on the administration’s vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.

As the White House announced earlier this week, the United States is making significant progress on three major trade initiatives in the Indo-Pacific, reflecting our deep commitment to advancing economic prosperity and long-term security across the region. President Trump announced a landmark economic agreement with Japan, one of our closest allies and most important trading – and one of our most trading partners. This historic deal underscores the enduring strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship and advances the mutual interests of both nations.

The United States and Indonesia also reached a framework for negotiating an agreement on reciprocal trade. This framework is an important step toward expanding bilateral economic ties and will help unlock new opportunities for exporters in both countries.

And on Tuesday, President Trump welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., of the Philippines to Washington. During the visit, the United States and the Philippines concluded a trade agreement that will reduce tariffs and expand market access, further deepening our economic partnerships with a key ally. Together, these agreements highlight the United States’s sustained leadership in the region and our strong partnership with Indo-Pacific allies and partners.

We are also gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border, and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians. The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

And with that, I’ll take some questions. Yes.

QUESTION: Thanks, Tommy. The special envoy’s statement, does that suggest that the U.S. is pulling out of any sort of negotiating role in the Gaza ceasefire talks? What are these alternatives?

MR PIGOTT: Well, look, ultimately the statement speaks for itself. But the question has never been our commitment to a ceasefire. The question has been Hamas’s commitment to a ceasefire, and that has been made clear by the special envoy’s statement, the fact that we have entered in good faith in trying to reach an end to this conflict. And as the special envoy said, we remain dedicated to trying to see an end to this conflict.

QUESTION: But will you work within the parties – Qatar, Egypt, for example – in the Doha format? Will you return to that? Are you pulling out entirely from this format?

MR PIGOTT: Well, look, again, I refer you back to the statement. This is a very dynamic situation, and ultimately, again, to reinforce, the question here has never been our commitment to try to get a ceasefire. We’ve seen that engagement. The question here has always been Hamas’s commitment to a ceasefire or willingness to get there.

QUESTION: And can you give us any examples of the alternative options that Witkoff references in his statement?

MR PIGOTT: At this point, I have nothing to preview.

Yes.

QUESTION: Just following up on that, what about the response from Hamas specifically made the administration feel that they are not acting in good faith?

MR PIGOTT: Well, look, these are sensitive diplomatic conversations. We’ll see in the days ahead as we proceed here. Ultimately, the special envoy’s statement speaks for itself, but I think the broader context here is also important, the fact that we have seen Hamas first break that ceasefire that existed on October 7th, then break another ceasefire, and then here, as the special envoy makes clear, not acting in a way in order to achieve a ceasefire again. So to reiterate, the question has never been our commitment to a ceasefire. It has been Hamas’s. They have shown that again and again and again, and have just shown it once again.

QUESTION: And this decision comes as dozens of people have starved to death in Gaza in the last few weeks as a wave of hunger is hitting the enclave. The WHO said yesterday that 21 children under the age of five were among those who died of malnutrition so far this year, and more than a hundred organizations have called for the lifting of all restrictions on the flow of aid and all land crossings to be opened and the restoration of the UN-led a humanitarian response. Given this decision today, is the U.S. considering any other steps to increase the flow of aid to Gaza? Are you talking with Israel about them taking any other steps? How do you move forward on the aid?

MR PIGOTT: Well, look, ultimately what we have seen us do is the delivery of close to 90 million meals into Gaza during a war zone, the ability to deliver that aid in a way where it is not being looted by Hamas. That is what we have seen. We are of course aware – of course we want to see end the devastation that has taken place in Gaza. That’s why we have seen this commitment to get aid to the people who need it in a way where it is not weaponized by Hamas.

That commitment remains. It is a commitment from President Trump and Secretary Rubio. That is why we have supported the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. That is why we continue supporting the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. That is why we’ve seen those 90 million meals being distributed and that commitment again to making sure that aid is reaching the people of Gaza that need it, and the first victims of Hamas being the people of Gaza, as is demonstrated once again here.

QUESTION: Is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation a sufficient mechanism for delivering aid to Gaza? People are still starving to death. Is that enough, in the U.S. opinion?

MR PIGOTT: Well, as Spokesperson Tammy Bruce has said from this podium before, it is never enough in a war zone. It is never enough. That is why we’re committed to trying to get as much aid in as possible. That is why we worked for that ceasefire, because of what we are seeing. But aid needs to be delivered in a way where it is not being looted by Hamas. So of course enough – it is never enough in a war zone. But we’re dedicated to getting as much aid into Gaza in a way where it reaches the people that need it as possible, and that’s why we were working so hard for a ceasefire.

QUESTION: Okay. And, sorry, I just have one question on the U.S. citizen that died in Syria, Hosam Saraya. Has the U.S. been able to ascertain any further details around the circumstances of his death?

MR PIGOTT: So what I can say on this is first, in terms of the circumstances around his death, I have nothing to confirm on this front. What I can say is we have had direct discussions with the Syrian Government on this issue and have called for an immediate investigation into the matter. Hosam and his family deserve justice, and those responsible for this atrocity must be held accountable.

Yes.

QUESTION: Hi, Tommy. Wanted a quick follow-up on that, and then I have a different subject I want to quickly ask you about, which is very relevant. Doctors Without Borders, internationally known and working with the U.S. for decades, is urgently calling for help beyond the foundation because one in four young children and pregnant women, they say, are malnourished and that it is a policy of starvation. Now, acknowledging 90 million meals and the “progress,” quote-unquote, but there is a whole area of Gaza that is not being served by that. People can’t get to it. It’s only in one region, in the south, and internationally 28 countries, hundreds of aid organizations, are calling for something more than that. There’s been some acknowledgment from U.S. officials as well that there’s real starvation, so is there any – now that the talks have collapsed and so that there’s no immediate ceasefire that might relieve the pressure, is there any alternative that the State Department would begin looking at?

And then I have just one quick other follow-up.

MR PIGOTT: Well, a couple points. First, it is progress to see 90 million meals.

QUESTION: I’m —

MR PIGOTT: That is – yes, and that is progress, and I think it is – it’s worth applauding, especially given the circumstances under which those meals were able to be delivered. I think another important context of this is that the first victims of Hamas are the people of Gaza. Of course, they are not the only victims; we saw the —

QUESTION: But that’s what we’re talking about.

MR PIGOTT: Yes, on October 7th, the atrocities that we saw there, many victims of Hamas. We remain dedicated to getting aid into Gaza to the people that actually need it, and we’ve called from this podium other entities to step up and working through this mechanism in order to deliver aid to the people of Gaza without it being subject to looting by Hamas.

QUESTION: Well, they’re volunteering, but they can’t get past the border. That’s the problem.

MR PIGOTT: We’re calling for conversations with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, with (inaudible) entities. Through this mechanism, we’ve seen the food being delivered.

QUESTION: It’s also fuel for the hospitals, where the incubators are now taking multiple children.

MR PIGOTT: We are incredibly aware of the humanitarian catastrophe that is happening there. That is the dedication you have seen from the President, the dedication you’ve seen from Secretary Rubio. Every single day, we have conversations here at the State Department; every single briefing, we have conversations here about getting aid into Gaza. It is the dedication of this administration. That’s why we’ve seen the 90 million meals – the support of that effort from this administration. So, of course we want to see as much aid getting into Gaza as possible in a way that is not being looted by Hamas, and this mechanism, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been a way to do that. So we’re calling for additional support of that foundation to deliver that aid.

QUESTION: Follow-up —

QUESTION: Okay. Let me ask you this other question, though, because there is a lot of reporting, New York Times and elsewhere, about planned cuts in PEPFAR going forward. Now, just last week, Republicans led the way on the Hill in carving out the clawback that was proposed in PEPFAR and in continuing the program and expanding it beyond some of the contracts that were frozen under DOGE. Can you give us an update, a status update, on where your – the State Department’s thinking is on PEPFAR going forward?

MR PIGOTT: Well, Secretary Rubio has stated that PEPFAR is an important and lifesaving program that will continue. That dedication continues. That has been clear from the Secretary; the Secretary has made that clear.

I will take a step back when we’re talking about aid programs in general. Part of the new vision of this administration when it comes to aid is looking at recipients of aid, or at least the communities, as allies and partners, not those that are dependent on this aid, and in the long term working towards a scenario where we have the same needs being provided by local partners or other entities as part of that long-term effort when we’re talking about aid in general. So PEPFAR, though, now is an important and lifesaving program that will continue. Secretary Rubio has made that clear.

QUESTION: And just to quickly follow up, some countries have moved towards taking ownership – South Africa, for instance, countries that are capable – but in conflict zones like Haiti, like Sudan, like southern Sudan, like Somalia, and several other countries involved is there a plan to continue it until countries can stand on their own two feet?

MR PIGOTT: Well, look, what I can say now is that PEPFAR – as I just said, that important and lifesaving program that will continue. That’s what our policy currently is here. Again, talking about that longer term, when we’re talking about aid in general, is when we’re talking about those local institutions being able to fulfill a lot of those needs, looking at people as trade and allies, not as those that are dependent on aid. That’s a broader aid vision that is from this administration. But when it comes to PEPFAR, as I said, that it will continue.

QUESTION: Syria?

QUESTION: Can I follow up on Gaza?

MR PIGOTT: Yes.

QUESTION: Thanks, Tommy. At the United Nations Security Council yesterday, the U.S. was isolated in its position when it comes to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, support for the GHF. We’ve had the UK prime minister in the last hour saying the situation in Gaza is unspeakable, indefensible. You have more than a hundred humanitarian aid agencies saying that this system is creating the conditions of starvation. You have desperate Israeli hostage families, who have been for weeks pleading with the prime minister of their country to do this deal.

The U.S. is the only power that has the leverage and the pressure to try and make that happen from the Israeli side. There is clearly a gap between Israel and Hamas; it’s been there for a long time. And there are Israeli families who will say that this is quibbling over a few meters of territory in Gaza; this is quibbling over the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, and the U.S. could put the pressure on to move these two sides closer together. And I just – can you help us understand why this moment, when you see the conditions on the ground in Gaza – the now mass starvation – the U.S. is deciding this is the moment to walk away from these talks?

MR PIGOTT: This is not a question of what the United States is doing; it’s a question of what Hamas has done. This is a response to what Hamas has done continually –

QUESTION: But that’s not actually the position of many of the Israeli hostage families, of –

MR PIGOTT: Well, and – well, and Israel has long accepted the deal on the table, and Hamas has long rejected it. I mean, this is about – it’s never about – been our commitment to a ceasefire. That’s never been the question here. We have engaged in good faith to try to achieve a ceasefire. The question has always been with Hamas. That is where the question has been. That is where it remains. And the response we just saw from Special Envoy Witkoff is reflective of that. The question is with Hamas, not with the United States.

Yes.

QUESTION: And sorry –

MR PIGOTT: It’s alright.

QUESTION: Just in terms – the statement says you’ll now consider alternative options. I mean – to bring the hostages home – what possible alternative options can there be? We – Israel has tried rescues. Gaza is reduced to rubble; the population is starving. So, I mean, that – if you could help us understand what that statement could possibly be referring to.

MR PIGOTT: I’m not going to speculate more on terms of what his statement – his statement stands for itself at this time. If we have more to announce, we will announce it.

QUESTION: And just – sorry, just one – can I just – there’s just one other thing I wanted to ask –

MR PIGOTT: All right. One more.

QUESTION: — about the two-state solution conference next week. I know the U.S. had said previously when it was postponed that it opposed countries going to this conference in New York. Do you have a position on it this time?

MR PIGOTT: Nothing further, beyond saying that we will not in attendance of that conference.

Yes.

QUESTION: Thank you, Tommy. Just to clarify, now when the envoy says we will consider alternative options to free the hostages and so on, what is meant by that? Because we have seen that only through negotiations were the hostages released in the past. So what other alternatives the U.S. could be thinking about?

MR PIGOTT: Well, I refer you to my previous response. I’m not going to expand upon what the special envoy said.

QUESTION: Okay. All right. Okay. So one other thing. And you also say that Hamas has broken the ceasefire. It was, in fact, the Israeli prime minister who broke the ceasefire on the 18th of March, this past March, and so on. And I say – or at least from what we hear by the interlocutors and so on that Hamas has been more than willing. It’s submitted many concessions and so on. So, what is required of Hamas so a ceasefire can take effect in – as far as the United States is concerned?

MR PIGOTT: Well, look, there has been conversations on this. I will not go into details of what those private diplomatic conversations have been. But what I can say is it is clear now from our perspective that Hamas does not appear to be coordinated nor acting in good faith. We have approached these conversations with good faith, as has been evident by our comments from this podium and other places. And it is clear now that Hamas has not been acting that way.

QUESTION: And lastly —

MR PIGOTT: Yes.

QUESTION: — just lastly, according to news reports and so on, the sticking point was actually the actual entry of aid to Gaza. They apparently did not agree on that. Is that really what broke finally, or what forced the United States team to pull out? Or is it because they want to maintain this GHF method of allowing aid into Gaza?

MR PIGOTT: Look, what I can say is what Spokesperson Bruce spoke to just on Tuesday: that discussions of the humanitarian situation in Gaza were part of this, and our effort was to try to get those humanitarian corridors in there. That has been a clear effort by this administration, as Spokesperson Bruce described.

And again, to reiterate, we are seeing aid being delivered, despite the actions of Hamas here, and those 90 million meals are to be applauded in terms of that effort. Of course, it will never be enough until we see an end to this conflict. But the entity that is standing in the way of ending this conflict is Hamas. They can release the hostages, lay down their arms. As we have said repeatedly, it is Hamas that is preventing an end to this conflict.

QUESTION: Follow-up on —

MR PIGOTT: Yes.

QUESTION: Can I follow up on Gaza?

QUESTION: Tommy, a few Middle East questions for you. Number one, with the Special Envoy Witkoff statement, he said there’s a lack of coordination; Hamas is not coordinated. Can you expand on that? Is it trouble reaching the appropriate leaders? Is it an unclear chain of command? I mean, where is the lack of coordination coming in?

MR PIGOTT: I’m not going to expand on his statement at this time.

So, yes, sir, go ahead.

QUESTION: Second question. Can you give us an update on Tom Barrack’s dealings today, reportedly meeting with Syrian and Israeli officials? Any status update?

MR PIGOTT: I have nothing specific to preview for you. But what I can say is he’s, of course, been in communication, as has the Secretary, with all sides for many days now, and those efforts continue.

QUESTION: Last question for you. Hopefully I’ll drag an answer out of you on this one. I asked in Tuesday’s briefing about why Secretary Rubio is not pushing harder for the extradition of Ahlam al-Tamimi from Jordan. I was given a written answer by the State Department on that yesterday, after you guys took it back. It basically said we continue to impress upon the Government of Jordan to bring her to justice.

President Trump said on day one – his executive order – American citizens come first in American foreign policy, America and American citizens. Secretary Rubio put out his three questions. Every dollar spent, every program has to answer in the affirmative one of three questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous? I’m sure you have these memorized by heart. A billion and a half dollars of foreign aid to Jordan – how is it conceivable that Tamimi is still there and any of that falls under these dictates of what American foreign policy is supposed to be, with three dead Americans at Tamimi’s hands?

MR PIGOTT: On your first point, I mean, to reiterate what we’ve provided to you, the United States has continually emphasized to the Government of Georgia^{Article page} the importance of holding Ahlam al-Tamimi, the convicted terrorist released by Israel in a 2011 prisoner swap, accountable in a U.S. court for her admitted role in a 2001 bombing in Jerusalem that killed 15 people, including three Americans. The United States continues to impress upon the Government of Georgia – Jordan that Tamimi is a brutal murderer who should be brought to justice.

QUESTION: It’s not working.

MR PIGOTT: Well – and on the point in terms of our foreign policy, the President has made clear, the Secretary has made clear through their actions, that America is coming first. We’ve seen that with the Americans that have been brought home. We see that with the pursuit of peace around the region. We see that with a policy that is about strengthening our industrial base and making sure that we are advancing those interests wherever possible. We are continually emphasizing to the Government of Jordan the importance of this issue.

In terms of the three that you mentioned – safer, stronger, more prosperous – those are not slogans here. They are actions. Those are north stars that we fulfill every single day to the best of our ability, making sure we’re advancing the interests of the American people in absolutely every single way that we can.

QUESTION: Israel?

MR PIGOTT: Yes.

QUESTION: Hi. Thank you. I just want to follow up on Gaza. Sorry. Did you want to go?

QUESTION: Would that be okay?

QUESTION: Yeah, sure.

QUESTION: Thank you so much.

MR PIGOTT: Sorry. I signaled to you as next there, so I wanted to follow up, but I’ll – after – and then you.

QUESTION: Thank you so much. Abigail Hauslohner, Financial Times. So I know – to go back to Gaza, I know you all have said repeatedly that the situation and starvation that we’re seeing is because Hamas is blocking progress, or you’ve said because the UN organizations aren’t willing to work within the framework of GHF and that Israel has set for aid distribution. We all acknowledge, obviously, that Israel controls Gaza’s borders completely. It is limiting food to the population because Hamas has not agreed to its terms. I know this question has been asked in many different ways; I’m going to try this way: To be clear, is the U.S. Government okay with Israel allowing children and adult civilians to starve so long as Hamas and the UN refuse to play by Israel’s rules for aid distribution?

MR PIGOTT: I reject the premise of that question, in terms – how that was set up. This humanitarian —

QUESTION: Is it okay —

MR PIGOTT: This humanitarian catastrophe lies at the feet of Hamas, who could end this conflict today by releasing the hostages and laying down their arms.

QUESTION: That suggests that short of Hamas doing that —

QUESTION: Children are – children are dying.

MR PIGOTT: Excuse me.

QUESTION: These kids are dying; doctors don’t have medicine. They don’t have fuel.

MR PIGOTT: This is something that we have dedicated – the President and the Secretary have been dedicated to getting as much aid as we can into Gaza in a way where it’s not being looted by Hamas. It is something that we —

QUESTION: Does it —

MR PIGOTT: Excuse me, if I —

QUESTION: Short of a change by Hamas, the U.S. Government will stand by?

MR PIGOTT: I am going answer this question. I am going to answer this question.

We have been dedicated to getting those 90 million meals into Gaza in a way where it has not been looted by Hamas. We have been dedicated to getting aid into Gaza. It is something that the Secretary and the President have talked about, worked for. These discussions of getting more aid into Gaza have been part of that ceasefire we are hoping for. But again, the blame of this lies at the feet of Hamas, and that is not – that is the fact of the matter.

QUESTION: Short of Hamas doing something, changing its behavior, the U.S. Government will allow the situation to proceed as-is?

MR PIGOTT: The U.S. Government is supporting an effort to get 90 million meals into Gaza. The U.S. Government is supporting an effort to get as much aid as possible to the people that need it without it being looted by Hamas. That is the actions of the U.S. Government in terms of supporting that effort, and we call on others to support that effort to get as much aid as we possibly can. Of course, it will never be enough. It is something we are continually working for, to get more and more aid in what ways we can, without being looted by Hamas, every single day.

QUESTION: Last question.

QUESTION: A follow-up?

QUESTION: Has President Trump seen images of the children or other civilians starving – recently, this week? Has he been shown —

MR PIGOTT: What I can speak to is President Trump’s comments before that he has said publicly about wanting to get aid into Gaza.

Yes.

QUESTION: Thank you. The criticism against the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is basically it’s controlled by Israel. It’s designed by Israel, it’s controlled by Israel, and therefore it’s weaponizing the food against the Palestinians; where before – before the creation of the GHF, it was 400 points where people can access the food. Yesterday the Jordanians managed to get 110 aid trucks, including baby formula and including flour. They work with WFP and they work with the World Central Kitchen. So there is an alternative to the GHF. Why can’t the U.S. allow other countries to use this kind of method, especially in northern Gaza? Because the four points where the GF – GHF is concentrated is in the south. So people from the north cannot come to the south. So why can you encourage these methods?

MR PIGOTT: Well, I flat-out reject your characterization of Israel weaponizing aid. The only entity that has been weaponizing aid has been Hamas, through the looting of aid, the (inaudible) of its population.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) both? Can you say both?

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MR PIGOTT: The – what we have seen is an effort from the United States Government, like I said, to get 90 million meals into Gaza during a war zone. We saw efforts —

QUESTION: But that’s not enough.

MR PIGOTT: We saw efforts to get to a ceasefire that —

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MR PIGOTT: We saw efforts to get to a ceasefire that Hamas has decided not to act in good faith to achieve. That is the reality here. And we’re continuing to try to get aid into a war zone that exists only because of Hamas. The war zone exists only because of Hamas, who could end the conflict tomorrow – who is weaponizing aid against the Gaza population. The first victims, as we said, are the Gaza population.

QUESTION: Can I follow —

QUESTION: Okay, I have one more question.

MR PIGOTT: One more.

QUESTION: I want to speak —

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

QUESTION: I want to ask a question on behalf of journalists in Gaza. You and other spokespeople behind this podium, they always talk about the freedom of expression, the value of our work. Our correspondents, including my own of Al Araby and my colleagues of AFP and every other journalist in Gaza, are unable to do their job because they are starving. They don’t have food. How can you allow this to happen? And you tell us and tell everybody else that the work of journalists is vital, especially in a war zone, and yet you’re now saying that it’s Hamas who is controlling the food and therefore we can’t do anything about these people. So what can —

MR PIGOTT: What I’m saying is Hamas is —

QUESTION: What can you – how can you help them? How can you help journalists in a war zone?

MR PIGOTT: So what I’m saying first on that front, in terms of the food, is that Hamas, through looting the food, has led to weaponization. They are weaponizing aid when they are able to. We have a system in place attempting to get as much aid into Gaza as possible in a way where it is not being looted by Hamas. That is the reality that we’re seeing. That is the reality that we’re pushing for – trying to get as much aid in there as we possibly can.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: Just quickly on Gaza. I – does the State Department have an official assessment of what the humanitarian or the food situation is? Is it famine? Is it mass starvation that we’re seeing? Is there like – do you have an assessment?

MR PIGOTT: Well, I can say that we are acutely aware of the humanitarian situation on the ground. In terms of a specific assessment, I have nothing to preview on that front. But we are acutely aware of the humanitarian —

QUESTION: Is it something you’re looking into?

MR PIGOTT: Well, we are very much aware of the humanitarian disaster that is there. We are very much aware of it. That, again, goes back to the commitment of why we’re trying to get aid into Gaza.

QUESTION: And quickly, because I have something on Syria, but just you keep referencing the 90 million meals. That’s since May 27th for 2.1 million people. I think assessments suggest if – that number needs to be closer to 350 million meals in order to get these people the food they need. So, that’s a big delta, obviously. What can – what can be done short of assigning complete blame to Hamas? What can be done to improve GHF’s ability to get food?

MR PIGOTT: Well, from the beginning, when this started, we did see a ramp-up in terms of the food that they’ve been able to deliver. We also saw efforts from this administration – support for this Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. And the hope is, is that we’ll have other entities supporting this mechanism as well, so that we can deliver as much food as possible. It will never be enough. We are working every day to get as close as possible, but it’ll never be enough because of the situation on the ground. That is not an excuse but that is the reality we are dealing with, and we are working every single day to get as much food to support those efforts as we possibly can because of our recognition of the disaster on the ground, because of the humanitarian catastrophe – every single day working towards that.

QUESTION: And just on Syria really quickly. The – do you think after the recent violence that the administration should perhaps rethink its willingness to lift all sanctions —

MR PIGOTT: Look, the – look, President Trump announced sanctions relief for Syria on May 13th to give all Syrians a chance at a peaceful and prosperous country. Syria is at a critical juncture, and we are looking to the Syrian Government to lead on next steps.

QUESTION: Syria? Follow up. Follow up?

MR PIGOTT: Yes.

QUESTION: Thank you. Just sticking on Gaza Humanitarian Foundation quickly, are you able to say whether you know whether the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distributes food that is high-nutrient, high-protein – the food that is needed for children, in particular, that have now reached starvation point? Can you confirm whether the U.S. Government knows whether that type of food is being distributed by this organization that you have said a few weeks ago the U.S. Government is now going to support?

MR PIGOTT: Well, I know that we have details in terms of what food they’re providing. Let me take that back to get you the exact details on that.

QUESTION: Thank you. And just – and just one other. And I just want to check, because you again – you’re reiterating 90 million meals. Is the U.S. Government aware of any mechanism that has been used by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to make sure any of those meals are getting to the most – those that are now at the starvation point to make sure that it is not – that it’s actually finding its way to the hospitals, to the most critical children that need it? Do you have any oversight on that? Does the organization have any control over that? Because it sounds like they only have control over their distribution sites, and once the food leaves that’s it. There’s no – there’s no way of telling where that goes.

MR PIGOTT: Well, in terms of the details, in terms of after it leaves distribution sites, I’ll take that back and see if we can get more details on that.

QUESTION: Please, sir, (inaudible).

MR PIGOTT: Thank you. Yes.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MR PIGOTT: Yeah.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

QUESTION: Just to switch topics to Ukraine, do you have any reaction to the talks in Istanbul? And it doesn’t seem like there was any – much progress. And separately, do you have – have the Russians reached out to you or offered any response to President Trump’s 50-day ultimatum?

MR PIGOTT: Well, nothing to preview in terms of that second question. On your first, we are aware that a third round of direct talks took place between the two parties. We support continued calls for a full, unconditional ceasefire – Ukraine’s continued calls for a full, unconditional ceasefire – including the complete halt of all strikes on civilian and critical infrastructure.

QUESTION: Follow-up?

MR PIGOTT: And we welcome the news that Russia and Ukraine agreed on a further exchange of prisoners, particularly the severely ill and wounded.

QUESTION: So do you see this as a – as progress, as – these talks?

MR PIGOTT: Well, what I can say is we continue to encourage direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in pursuit of a comprehensive ceasefire and, eventually, a negotiated peace settlement.

QUESTION: Tommy, may I?

QUESTION: Follow-up?

MR PIGOTT: Yes.

QUESTION: Just to follow up on that, the fact that there was no ceasefire on the table also was overshadowed by Russian attacks. Was it a missed opportunity, in your opinion?

MR PIGOTT: Well, look, the President has been clear many times about how he views certain actions by Russia, especially over recent weeks. He has been very clear on that, very transparent on that. He’s also been clear that we want to see the parties continue those direct talks to reach that ceasefire, that comprehensive ceasefire, and eventually that negotiated peace settlement. Beyond that, I have nothing further to add.

QUESTION: Thanks, Tommy. Also —

QUESTION: On Syria?

QUESTION: I also want to get your reaction to the latest reports about China supplying Russia with drone engines under different names. What kind of reaction does it invite from you guys?

MR PIGOTT: Well, let me take your question back and see if we can get more details there. But in the meantime, I’d refer you to some – some other comments from this podium.

QUESTION: Okay, if I may squeeze in one more topic, I asked you a couple of days ago about Azerbaijan and Armenia. The President said that he achieved some magic. Could you please unpack it for us?

MR PIGOTT: Well, at this point I have nothing to preview. We’ll see if we’re able – when we have something to announce, we’ll announce it. Thank you. That’s all for today. Thank you very much.

(The briefing was concluded at 2:38 p.m.)

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1. Government of Jordan ↑