Visit to Gaza Amid Aid Shortages
Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, along with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, visited southern Gaza on Friday. This visit comes amidst widespread international criticism regarding starvation, inadequate aid, and chaos surrounding aid distribution sites.
The two officials toured a distribution point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the U.S. and Israel. Huckabee stated that the purpose of the visit was to “learn the truth” about these sites.
In a social media post, Huckabee shared, “We received briefings from the IDF and spoke to people on the ground. GHF delivers over one million meals daily, which is an incredible accomplishment!”
The pair visited a GHF location in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous. Witkoff noted, “We spent over five hours inside Gaza assessing conditions and meeting with GHF and other agencies to provide President Trump a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation.”
Chapin Fay, a spokesperson for GHF, commented, “Mr. Trump sent his envoy to serve as his eyes and ears on the ground, reflecting his deep concern for what is right.” GHF is reported to have delivered 100 million meals to those in need.
Amid ongoing conflict, the sites in question have become places of desperation, often witnessing chaos among large crowds seeking aid, sometimes resulting in fatalities. The Israeli military asserts that only warning shots have been fired, while GHF states its armed contractors utilized non-lethal methods to manage the crowd. Nonetheless, there have been reports of persistent casualties due to gunfire in these areas.
Witkoff’s visit coincided with U.S. officials abandoning ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas while seeking alternative means to ensure the safety of Israeli hostages. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, Gaza is experiencing a looming famine exacerbated by Israel’s blockade. Despite some resumption of aid, the quantities fall short of what is critically needed. Human Rights Watch recently labeled the current aid distribution system as flawed, emphasizing the dangers surrounding it.
