Trump Envoy to Inspect Gaza Aid Sites Amid Accusations of Israeli Starvation Tactics

United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to Gaza on Friday alongside U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to inspect humanitarian aid distribution amid escalating international condemnation of Israel’s alleged starvation policy in Gaza. The visit comes at a time when global scrutiny of Israel’s actions in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory is intensifying due to mounting reports of famine and mass casualties.

According to the White House, Witkoff’s mission is to assess conditions at food distribution sites and devise a plan for delivering increased food aid to the region. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Witkoff would also meet with local Gazans to hear directly about the worsening humanitarian crisis. After the visit, both Witkoff and Huckabee are expected to brief President Trump to finalize a comprehensive aid plan for Gaza.

This development follows the deaths of over 50 Palestinians in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Wednesday and the confirmed deaths of two more children from starvation. Gaza’s Health Ministry has officially recorded 154 deaths due to famine and malnutrition in recent weeks, including 89 children. Alarming reports also suggest that more than 1,000 Palestinians have died since May while seeking food at distribution centers operated by the controversial GHF, a U.S.- and Israeli-backed agency.

Shortly after his arrival in Israel on Thursday, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting is significant, particularly after President Trump publicly disagreed with Netanyahu earlier in the week. While Netanyahu denied that there was a hunger crisis in Gaza, Trump acknowledged the severity of the situation, describing it as “real starvation.”

The United Nations and various independent humanitarian experts have been warning for months that starvation is taking root in Gaza due to Israel’s military blockade, which has obstructed the delivery of critical humanitarian aid. The situation has now reached a point where UN officials have declared that famine is actively unfolding in the enclave.

Frustration with Israel’s ongoing military actions and its refusal to allow adequate humanitarian access has prompted a growing number of Western countries to take diplomatic steps in support of Palestine. This week, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Portugal announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, following similar declarations by Spain, Norway, and Ireland. French President Emmanuel Macron also announced that France would recognize Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September.

As of now, 142 out of the 193 United Nations member states either recognize or plan to recognize the State of Palestine.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, after meeting Netanyahu in Jerusalem, described Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe as “beyond imagination” and emphasized that the Israeli government must act swiftly and responsibly to avert mass starvation through immediate medical and food aid.

Since the start of the Israeli offensive in October 2023, following the deadly Hamas attacks that killed around 1,139 Israelis, Gaza has endured relentless bombardment. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 Palestinians and injuries to nearly 150,000 more. Once a vibrant cultural and political hub, much of Gaza now lies in ruins, making international intervention and aid delivery more urgent than ever.