US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Visit Gaza to Assess Humanitarian Crisis
Steve Witkoff, special envoy of United States President Donald Trump, is set to travel to Gaza. His mission is to inspect the distribution of aid amid rising international pressure concerning Israel’s stance on the humanitarian crisis in the war-affected Palestinian territory.
Accompanied by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, Witkoff aims to evaluate aid distribution operations. This comes as criticism of Israel grows due to reports of over 1,000 Palestinians dying from hunger at food aid sites managed by the US- and Israeli-supported GHF.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Witkoff will visit “distribution sites to devise a strategy for increased food supplies” and engage with local Gazans to understand the gravity of the situation firsthand. “Following the visit, the envoy and ambassador will brief the president to finalize a plan for food and aid distribution in the region,” Leavitt stated.
The envoy’s visit follows a tragic incident where over 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks, and health officials reported two more children dying from starvation. This adds to the confirmed death toll of 154 individuals, including 89 children, who have died from famine and malnutrition in recent weeks.
Upon arrival in Israel, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This meeting occurred at a time when President Trump publicly acknowledged the reality of starvation in Gaza, contradictory to Netanyahu’s previous claims.
The UN and independent experts had previously warned of impending starvation due to the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid. This week, these warnings became a dreadful reality. In response, countries like the UK, Canada, and Portugal announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state due to Israel’s refusal to allow aid and continued attacks on Gaza’s populace.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, after meeting with Netanyahu, expressed deep concern about the humanitarian crisis. “The humanitarian disaster in Gaza is unimaginable. The Israeli government must act swiftly and effectively to prevent mass starvation,” he stated, indicating a shared understanding of the urgency.
Gaza, once a bustling center of Palestinian life, has largely been destroyed by Israeli bombardments. Since October 2023, following Hamas attacks on Israel that claimed about 1,139 lives, over 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and nearly 150,000 have been wounded.
Accompanied by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, Witkoff aims to evaluate aid distribution operations. This comes as criticism of Israel grows due to reports of over 1,000 Palestinians dying from hunger at food aid sites managed by the US- and Israeli-supported GHF.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Witkoff will visit “distribution sites to devise a strategy for increased food supplies” and engage with local Gazans to understand the gravity of the situation firsthand. “Following the visit, the envoy and ambassador will brief the president to finalize a plan for food and aid distribution in the region,” Leavitt stated.
The envoy’s visit follows a tragic incident where over 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks, and health officials reported two more children dying from starvation. This adds to the confirmed death toll of 154 individuals, including 89 children, who have died from famine and malnutrition in recent weeks.
Upon arrival in Israel, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This meeting occurred at a time when President Trump publicly acknowledged the reality of starvation in Gaza, contradictory to Netanyahu’s previous claims.
The UN and independent experts had previously warned of impending starvation due to the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid. This week, these warnings became a dreadful reality. In response, countries like the UK, Canada, and Portugal announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state due to Israel’s refusal to allow aid and continued attacks on Gaza’s populace.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, after meeting with Netanyahu, expressed deep concern about the humanitarian crisis. “The humanitarian disaster in Gaza is unimaginable. The Israeli government must act swiftly and effectively to prevent mass starvation,” he stated, indicating a shared understanding of the urgency.
Gaza, once a bustling center of Palestinian life, has largely been destroyed by Israeli bombardments. Since October 2023, following Hamas attacks on Israel that claimed about 1,139 lives, over 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and nearly 150,000 have been wounded.
