Steve Witkoff’s Visit to Gaza: A Closer Look at the Humanitarian Crisis
Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for the Middle East appointed by former President Donald Trump, recently traveled to Gaza, where he observed one of the contentious food distribution centers that have become the focus of international outcry. This visit comes amid alarming reports of widespread starvation in Gaza, a situation exacerbated by months of aid restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities.
During his visit, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the growing global concern regarding humanitarian conditions in the region. Despite his background as a former real estate lawyer and lack of experience in foreign policy or humanitarian aid, Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza. He expressed his intention to gain a clearer understanding of the humanitarian situation and to help develop a strategy for delivering essential food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza.
Chapin Fay, a spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by the US and Israel, stated that Witkoff’s visit demonstrated Trump’s commitment to addressing the crisis. Fay emphasized that the priority must be “feeding civilians, not Hamas.” However, the absence of senior international aid officials during Witkoff’s visit raises concerns about the reliability of the Israeli and US plans to enhance aid delivery, especially in light of ongoing challenges surrounding GHF operations.
In a recent conversation with the US news outlet Axios, Trump reiterated his desire to improve aid access to Gaza, stating, “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.” It remains uncertain whether Trump’s approach will involve expanding GHF operations or adopting a new strategy altogether.
Shortly after Witkoff’s visit, reports emerged of Israeli forces shooting three Palestinians near one of the GHF distribution sites, raising questions about the safety of such locations. Human Rights Watch has characterized these sites as “death traps,” where violence has become disturbingly common. The UN has reported that nearly 900 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to reach these distribution points.
Belkis Wille, an associate director at Human Rights Watch, criticized the militarized aid distribution system as flawed, stating, “US-backed Israeli forces and private contractors have turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths.” She pointed out that Israeli forces are not only preventing basic necessities from reaching Palestinian civilians but are also resorting to lethal force against those seeking food.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with the UN reporting that 1,353 Palestinians have been killed while waiting for food assistance, including 859 near GHF sites. The Gaza health ministry reported that in just 24 hours, 83 individuals were killed and 554 wounded due to Israeli fire, with many casualties occurring while they sought humanitarian aid.
The UN has highlighted that longstanding Israeli restrictions on aid entry have created an unpredictable environment, leading to overwhelming desperation among the population. As aid trucks arrive, they are often stripped before they can reach their intended destinations, further complicating the humanitarian crisis.
Despite some countries resuming airdrops of aid into Gaza, experts warn that the volume of food delivered by this method is insufficient to combat the widespread starvation affecting the population.
In a related development, Hamas recently released a video featuring an Israeli hostage, identified as Evyatar David, who was captured during the October 7 attack. Israeli media reports indicate that 49 hostages remain in Gaza, with some believed to be deceased.
Israeli officials have indicated that if progress is not made in negotiations with Hamas regarding the hostages, military operations in Gaza may be intensified. International humanitarian agencies are sounding alarms about the famine gripping Gaza, a situation that has deteriorated since Israel imposed restrictions on food access for several months.
As the world watches closely, the need for immediate and effective humanitarian assistance in Gaza has never been more urgent. The complexities surrounding aid distribution and the ongoing violence require a concerted effort to ensure that the basic needs of the civilian population are met.
