Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff visits Gaza amid humanitarian outcry

Friday 01 August 2025 - 14:30

Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East under President Donald Trump, visited a humanitarian aid center in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip on Friday, as international criticism mounts over the dire conditions in the Palestinian enclave.

The visit comes as Gaza teeters on the brink of famine after nearly 22 months of conflict, sparked by Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The territory remains heavily dependent on humanitarian aid, much of which has been delayed or disrupted.

Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Witkoff toured a facility operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American-backed initiative launched in May to circumvent a previous UN-led aid system.

“This morning I joined Steve Witkoff in Gaza to learn the truth about GHF aid operations,” Huckabee posted on X, along with a photo of their visit.

However, Human Rights Watch (HRW) strongly condemned the current aid model, calling it a “death trap” for Palestinians. In a report, HRW accused Israeli forces of war crimes for allegedly killing civilians waiting for food, and criticized the “militarized” aid system jointly operated by the U.S. and Israel.

Since GHF began distributing aid, the United Nations has recorded the deaths of 1,373 Palestinians waiting for assistance—859 of them near GHF distribution sites—mostly due to Israeli military action.

On Friday alone, Gaza’s civil defense reported 11 additional deaths caused by airstrikes and gunfire, including two individuals near a GHF site.

Israel’s military has not responded directly to these claims but routinely asserts that it seeks to minimize civilian casualties.

The White House said Witkoff and Huckabee's visit aims to finalize a new plan to improve food distribution and engage directly with Gaza residents to assess their urgent needs.

“The hunger is unbearable. People are turning on each other with knives for a few food packages,” said Amir Zaqot from Al-Zawayda, after an aid drop.

Witkoff had previously visited Gaza in January during a temporary ceasefire, which ended when Israeli forces resumed operations on March 18.

On Thursday, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces growing domestic and international pressure—internally to destroy Hamas and free hostages, and externally to de-escalate the war.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, visiting Jerusalem, described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "beyond imagination." He noted that Israel is increasingly isolated diplomatically, as more countries, including Portugal, Canada, France, and the UK, consider recognizing a Palestinian state.