On a recent visit to Gaza, Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy for US President Donald Trump, engaged with a US-backed aid operation amidst escalating humanitarian concerns. This visit occurred as the United Nations (UN) has raised alarm over the deteriorating conditions in the territory, attributing part of the crisis to the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Humanitarian Operations Under Scrutiny
Witkoff’s visit on Friday focused on a site operated by the GHF in Rafah, located in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and the militant group Hamas have intensified. The GHF commenced its operations in late May and has since faced significant criticism from humanitarian organizations and foreign governments. A global hunger monitor recently highlighted an unfolding famine in Gaza, raising urgent questions about the adequacy of aid distribution.
Shortly after Witkoff’s visit, Palestinian medics reported that Israeli forces shot dead three Palestinians near one of the GHF’s sites in southern Gaza. The Israeli military stated they were investigating the incident, which involved soldiers firing warning shots at what they described as a “gathering of suspects.” This incident underscores the escalating tensions in the region, where the UN estimates that over 1,000 people have died while attempting to receive aid since the GHF began its operations.
UN and Israel’s Response to the Aid Crisis
The Israeli military has acknowledged that its troops have unintentionally killed some Palestinians seeking aid and has introduced new orders aimed at improving their response. In contrast, the UN has declined to collaborate with the GHF, citing concerns that its aid distribution methods violate humanitarian neutrality principles, further exacerbating the hunger crisis in the enclave.
Despite these criticisms, the GHF maintains that no fatalities have occurred at its distribution points and asserts that it is more effective in safeguarding aid deliveries than the UN. The Israeli government has attributed the failure to deliver food supplies to Hamas, claiming the GHF’s system was designed to prevent aid from being seized by the militant group. Hamas denies these allegations, insisting that it does not steal aid.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages have stalled, with indirect talks recently ending without resolution. On Friday, Hamas released a video of Israeli hostage Evyatar David, who appeared significantly underweight, while its ally, the Islamic Jihad militant group, shared a video of hostage Rom Braslavski, who was seen pleading for his release.
Witkoff’s visit followed a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid growing international scrutiny over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The region, home to approximately 2.2 million inhabitants, has faced severe shortages of food and medical supplies. Health officials in Gaza report that dozens have succumbed to malnutrition in recent days after a blockade that restricted supplies from March to May.
In response to international pressure, Israel has stated it is working to increase aid access. This includes temporarily halting military operations in certain areas and establishing protected routes for aid convoys. The Israeli military reported that on Thursday alone, 200 trucks of aid were distributed by the UN and other organizations, with many more awaiting clearance at border crossings.
While Israel has introduced food air drops, UN agencies describe these efforts as inadequate compared to allowing full truck access for humanitarian assistance. On Friday, the Israeli military announced that 126 food packages were airdropped by six countries, including France, Spain, and Germany.
The conflict in Gaza escalated dramatically following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages in southern Israel, according to Israeli figures. Since then, Gaza health officials report that more than 60,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the ongoing offensive.
The situation remains fluid as efforts for humanitarian relief continue amidst a backdrop of violence and political complexity.
