What We’re Watching: Trump undermines Bibi’s starvation claim, Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, Taiwan recall fail

Trump contradicts Bibi on Gaza humanitarian crisis

US President Donald Trump on Monday acknowledged that there’s “real starvation” in Gaza, an unusually direct contradiction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had claimed there is “no starvation.” International condemnation of Israel for the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza has swelled recently, focused especially on starving children and the killing of hundreds of Palestinians at US- and-Israeli run aid distribution sites. But no global voice rings as loudly in Israel as the US president’s. Israel over the weekend announced a brief pause in military operations to allow for the entry of more desperately needed aid. The US will also start setting up its own food centers in the strip, Trump said. (Is Bibi losing MAGA? See here.)

Thailand and Cambodia reach ceasefire deal

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an unconditional ceasefire at peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, bringing to an end five days of border clashes. The conflict dates back over a century but this was the worst flareup in more than a decade: at least 33 people died and another 150,000 have been displaced since Thursday. Ahead of the talks, which were co-organized by the US and Malaysia and attended by China, US President Donald Trump had declared he would not resume tariff negotiations with either country until a ceasefire was reached.

Taiwan’s historic recall fails

An unprecedented effort to oust a fifth of Taiwan’s entire legislature fell flat Saturday, as all 24 opposition lawmakers from the China-friendly Kuomintang party (KMT) survived their recall votes. The outcome is a big blow to President William Lai’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, which had championed the recalls as a strategy to wrestle a legislative majority away from the KMT. Now, though, the KMT-led coalition’s interest in halting Lai’s agenda may be keener than ever. Click here for more on the historic recalls.