GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: President Donald Trump’s special envoy has announced plans to increase food distribution in Gaza after visiting a US-supported aid center on Friday. This comes amid alarming reports from the UN human rights office, which states that Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians who were waiting for essential aid.
Steve Witkoff’s visit coincided with a report from Human Rights Watch, which condemned Israeli forces for what they described as “regular bloodbaths” near US-backed aid points managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
According to the UN human rights office in the region, at least 1,373 people have lost their lives while seeking assistance in Gaza since May 27, with 105 casualties occurring in just the last two days of July. The UN’s breakdown indicates that 859 fatalities occurred near GHF distribution sites, while 514 were along routes used by UN and other aid convoys.
Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza and shared a photograph of himself in a protective vest during his visit to the GHF center. He stated his aim was to give President Trump a clear picture of the humanitarian crisis and assist in developing a plan to deliver food and medical supplies to the people in Gaza.
In a phone call with the news site Axios, Trump emphasized the importance of getting aid to those in need. “We want to help people. We want to help them live. We want to get people fed. It is something that should have happened a long time ago,” he expressed.
While Trump echoed Israeli claims that Hamas is responsible for the theft of much of the aid sent to Gaza, he did not clarify whether his proposed plan would enhance GHF’s efforts or involve a new framework for aid distribution.
