Trump Envoy Visits Controversial Gaza Aid Site
Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy of President Donald Trump, made his inaugural visit to a contentious aid distribution site in Gaza, backed by Israel and the US. Witkoff visited Israel with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee to understand the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operations. The delegation’s visit focused on understanding the GHF’s operations.
Huckabee emphasized the desire to learn the truth about the GHF’s activities. The GHF’s activities have come under scrutiny following reports of deadly incidents at their distribution points. The UN has reported at least 859 Palestinian fatalities near these sites, a claim the GHF disputes.
Israel maintains that its forces have only issued warning shots and do not target civilians intentionally. According to sources, Witkoff and Huckabee inspected one of the GHF locations near Rafah in southern Gaza on Friday. In a post shared on X, Huckabee highlighted their engagement with ground personnel and briefings from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), asserting that the GHF was providing “more than one million meals a day,” calling it an “incredible feat.”
The GHF delivered approximately 1.3 million meals across three distribution centers on Thursday. The organization has not yet disclosed figures for Friday. In contrast, the UN asserts that GHF’s meal provision significantly falls short of addressing the nutritional needs of Gazans.
Visit Sparks Outrage as Critics Accuse U.S. Delegation of Ignoring Gaza’s Humanitarian Reality
With international journalists, including those from the BBC, barred from independently entering Gaza, verifying these claims remains a significant challenge. Some residents have criticized Witkoff’s visit. Louay Mahmoud believes Steve Witkoff will only see the narrative Israel wants him to see. This visit is a hollow media stunt, lacking any real humanitarian intent.”
Amer Khayrat, a father of two from Gaza City, expressed frustration. He believes Gaza does not need another envoy with a press team. We demand an end to the siege, cessation of bombings, and a halt to unqualified American support for this conflict.”
A retired US special forces officer who worked at the GHF centers reported witnessing IDF troops and US contractors firing at crowds of Palestinians near the sites. He saw this happen near the sites. Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar, a veteran of the US Army’s Green Berets, witnessed brutality and indiscriminate force against an unarmed, starving population. He stated this was unprecedented in his career.
The GHF refuted Aguilar’s allegations as “categorically false,” labeling him a “disgruntled former contractor terminated for misconduct.” Aguilar vehemently denies this.
In May, GHF aid sites took over the distribution of aid previously managed by the UN, igniting widespread international criticism. Israel has accused Hamas of misappropriating UN supplies, a claim that Hamas disputes.
Israeli Forces Accused of Repeatedly Firing on Crowds Near Gaza Aid Points
There are currently four GHF locations situated within Israeli military areas and managed by private security contractors from the US. Eyewitness accounts and reports from medics indicate that Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on crowds gathered near these aid points.
Moreover, UN agencies have raised alarms over a severe humanitarian crisis, warning of imminent mass starvation in the region. The UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that at least 100 Palestinians lost their lives while attempting to access food aid in Gaza. The deaths occurred during the effort to obtain food aid. Of these fatalities, 859 occurred close to GHF sites.
The OCHR noted that the majority of these deaths were attributed to the Israeli military. The office acknowledged the presence of other armed groups nearby. However, they stated they lacked evidence to implicate them in the incidents. The investigation confirmed that there was no indication that the Palestinians killed were involved in hostilities. They did not pose a threat to Israeli security forces.
Israel Blames Hamas for Unrest Near Gaza Aid Distribution Sites
Israel has blamed Hamas for creating turmoil near the aid sites. When contacted by the BBC for a response, GHF dismissed the UN’s casualty figures.
Reports from the Hamas-operated Civil Defence agency indicate at least 10 individuals have died in Gaza since Friday morning. These deaths occurred in southern and central Gaza. Eight people were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting makeshift shelters in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. The strikes occurred in two separate incidents.
Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point in the Morag corridor, north of Rafah. This resulted in two more fatalities and injuries to at least 20 others. Residents described a scene where hundreds of individuals had gathered for food when the shooting erupted.
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