U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Mike Huckabee go to Gaza assist distribution website as humanitarian disaster worsens

[ad_1] President Trump's particular envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited southern Gaza on Friday amid international outrage over hunger, assist shortages and lethal chaos close to assist distribution websites.

Witkoff and Huckabee toured one of many privately run U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis's distribution websites, Huckabee stated.

The goal of the go to was "to study the reality" about GHF websites, Huckabee wrote in a social media publish.

"We acquired briefings from (the IDF) and spoke to people on the bottom. GHF delivers multiple million meals a day, an unbelievable feat!" Huckabee stated.

A photograph shared on social media by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff exhibits him and Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visiting an assist distribution website in Gaza on Friday, August 1, 2025. Steve Witkoff

Witkoff and Huckabee visited a GHF website in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost metropolis, in keeping with an official concerned with the go to. The official requested anonymity as a result of they weren't approved to transient the media.

"In the present day, we spent over 5 hours inside Gaza - stage setting the info on the bottom, assessing situations, and assembly with (GHF) and different companies. The aim of the go to was to present (President Trump) a transparent understanding of the humanitarian scenario and assist craft a plan to ship meals and medical assist to the folks of Gaza," Witkoff stated on social media.

Mr. Trump "despatched his envoy to function his eyes and ears on the bottom, reflecting his deep concern and dedication to doing what's proper," GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay stated in a press release. "We have been honored to transient his delegation, share our operations, and exhibit the affect of delivering 100 million meals to those that want them most."

All 4 of the group's distribution websites are in zones managed by the Israeli army. All through their months in operation, these websites have turn out to be flashpoints of desperation, with mass crowds of individuals gathering exterior however who've then come beneath hearth from Israeli forces or been trampled within the ensuing crush.

The Israeli army says it has solely fired warning photographs at individuals who method its forces, and GHF says its armed contractors have solely used pepper spray or fired warning photographs to manage crowds. However there was a persistent sample of individuals being killed by Israeli gunfire and even heavier weapons across the G.H.F. websites over the previous 5 months, with the loss of life toll within the lots of.

Witkoff's go to comes per week after U.S. officers walked away from ceasefire talks in Qatar, blaming Hamas and pledging to hunt different methods to rescue Israeli hostages and make Gaza protected.

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday that he was despatched to craft a plan to spice up meals and assist deliveries as a part of an effort "to save lots of lives and finish this disaster," whereas Mr. Trump wrote on social media that the quickest strategy to finish the disaster can be for Hamas to give up and launch hostages.

Worldwide organizations have stated Gaza has been on the point of famine for the previous two years. The Built-in Meals Safety Part Classification, the main worldwide authority on meals crises, stated latest developments, together with Israel's full blockade on assist for two 1/2 months, imply the "worst-case state of affairs of famine is presently enjoying out in Gaza."

Although the circulate of assist has resumed, together with by way of airdrops, the quantity stepping into Gaza stays far decrease than what assist organizations say is required. A safety breakdown within the territory has made it almost unimaginable to soundly ship meals to ravenous Palestinians; a lot of the restricted assist getting into is hoarded and later bought at exorbitant costs.

In a report issued Friday, Human Rights Watch referred to as it "a flawed, militarized assist distribution system that has turned assist distributions into common bloodbaths."

Israel's army and the prime minister's workplace didn't reply to a request for touch upon the report.

A July 30 video printed Thursday by the U.N. Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed an assist convoy driving previous a border crossing as gunfire ricocheted off the bottom close to the place crowds congregated.

"We have been met on the highway by tens of 1000's of hungry and determined individuals who instantly offloaded all the pieces from the backs of our vans," stated Olga Cherevko, an OCHA workers member.

The struggle between Israel and Hamas began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing round 1,200 folks and abducting 251 others. They nonetheless maintain 50 hostages, together with round 20 believed to be alive. Many of the others have been launched in ceasefires or different offers.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed greater than 60,000 Palestinians, in keeping with Gaza's Hamas-run Well being Ministry. Its rely does not distinguish between militants and civilians. The ministry operates beneath the Hamas authorities. The U.N. and different worldwide organizations see it as essentially the most dependable supply of information on casualties.