US envoy Steve Witkoff visits Gaza aid operation which UN calls unsafe as humanitarian crises worsens
Steve Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee toured one of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) distribution sites in Rafah, on Friday.
Humanitarian organisations and many foreign governments have been strongly critical of the GHF, which began operations in late May.
A global hunger monitor warned this week of the famine unfolding in Gaza.
The United Nations says more than 1,000 people have been killed trying to receive aid in Gaza since the GHF began operating, most of them shot by Israeli forces operating near GHF sites.
The Israeli military acknowledged its forces have killed some Palestinians seeking aid and says it has given its troops new orders to improve their response.
The U.N. has declined to work with the GHF, which it says distributes aid in ways that are inherently dangerous and violate humanitarian neutrality principles, contributing to the hunger crisis across the territory.
The GHF says nobody has been killed at its distribution points, and that it is doing a better job of protecting aid deliveries than the U.N.
GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay said in a statement President Trump understands the crisis in Gaza after '100,000,0000 meals delivered' to Palestinians.
"President Trump understands the stakes in Gaza and that feeding civilians, not Hamas, must be the priority," Mr Fay said.
Mr Witkoff said on X he had also met with other agencies.
"The purpose of the visit was to give @POTUS (Trump) a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza," he said.
Mr Witkoff visited Gaza a day after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel faces growing international pressure over the devastation of Gaza since the start of the war and growing starvation among 2.2 million Palestinians.
Israel blames Hamas and the U.N. for the failure of food to get to desperate Palestinians in Gaza and introduced the GHF distribution system, saying it would prevent aid supplies being seized by Hamas.
Hamas denies stealing aid.
Gaza medics say dozens have died of malnutrition in recent days after Israel cut off all supplies to the enclave for nearly three months from March-May.
Israel says it is taking steps to let in more aid, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.
On Friday, the Israeli military said 200 trucks of aid were distributed by the U.N. and other organisations on Thursday, with hundreds more waiting to be picked up from the border crossings inside Gaza.
The U.N. says it has thousands of trucks still waiting, if Israel would let them in without the stringent security measures that aid groups say have prevented the entry of humanitarian assistance.
Indirect negotiations between the sides aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release deal ended last week in deadlock.
The Gaza war started after Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostages following an attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
With Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Arab states call on Hamas to lay down arms and return hostages
Former Labor adviser Bruce Hawker discusses Arab states calling on Hamas to lay down its arms and return the Israeli hostages during a United Nations conference in New York. 'Things are happening there which have the potential to start to at least take the pressure off the horrible events which we are witnessing on a daily basis in Gaza,' Mr Hawker told Sky News Australia. 'Anthony Albanese will want to be part of the solution to those terrible problems.'
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Unconscionable scenes' in Gaza have driven Western nations to recognise Palestine
Former Labor adviser Bruce Hawker says the 'completely unconscionable scenes' of starvation in Gaza has driven more Western nations to recognise a Palestinian state. 'Now, it's an opportunity for forward thinking governments around the world to say, how do we lay the groundwork for what was looking like a pretty good option back in the 1990s when Bill Clinton was the president and going towards this two-state solution between Palestine and Israel,' Mr Hawker told Sky News Australia. 'All of that has been set back horribly as a result of Hamas' attack on Israel in October last year and by Israel's response. 'How do we start resetting it all in a way that would allow, with goodwill on both sides, somewhere down the line for an independent Palestinian state to be established.'
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Palestine permeates Labor as leaders focus on elections
Tensions within the Labor movement over policies on the Middle East loom over a key party love-in, as focus turns to preparing for Australia's next state election. A handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Victorian party's conference on Saturday, holding up images of Palestinian flags on their devices. While passed motions do not bind governments or the federal party, votes by rank-and-file members are set for later in the day on the AUKUS defence agreement and Middle East. The grassroots resolutions call for action against the "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine as well as withdrawing from AUKUS. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among hundreds of federal and state MPs, party members and union officials at Saturday's gathering. Mr Marles and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan were welcomed with standing ovations, with the latter's address firmly focused on the 2026 state election. Ms Allan promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Mr Marles spent much of his speech thanking Labor members for efforts to secure the party's thumping federal election win, with uncontroversial motions discussed at the start of the day. A coalition of groups are set to rally outside the venue to oppose the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Security was tightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps shielding public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan, who has warned people not to bring their "extremist behaviour" to the 2025 conference. "If they want to join the Labor party and be part of the debate and discussion inside the room, that's how you make a difference," she said. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the force was prepared for protest action and ready to respond. The conference falls on the same weekend as the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote northeast Arnhem Land. Mr Albanese is expected to attend the four-day event, with another senior leader to instead give the federal address to the state Labor faithful. With issues mounting after a decade in power, the Victorian Labor brand was viewed as a drag on the Albanese government's hopes for re-election in the lead-up to the May 3 poll. Labor ultimately retained all of its Victorian seats and added MPs for Deakin, Menzies and Melbourne to its ballooning lower-house benches in Canberra. Tensions within the Labor movement over policies on the Middle East loom over a key party love-in, as focus turns to preparing for Australia's next state election. A handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Victorian party's conference on Saturday, holding up images of Palestinian flags on their devices. While passed motions do not bind governments or the federal party, votes by rank-and-file members are set for later in the day on the AUKUS defence agreement and Middle East. The grassroots resolutions call for action against the "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine as well as withdrawing from AUKUS. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among hundreds of federal and state MPs, party members and union officials at Saturday's gathering. Mr Marles and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan were welcomed with standing ovations, with the latter's address firmly focused on the 2026 state election. Ms Allan promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Mr Marles spent much of his speech thanking Labor members for efforts to secure the party's thumping federal election win, with uncontroversial motions discussed at the start of the day. A coalition of groups are set to rally outside the venue to oppose the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Security was tightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps shielding public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan, who has warned people not to bring their "extremist behaviour" to the 2025 conference. "If they want to join the Labor party and be part of the debate and discussion inside the room, that's how you make a difference," she said. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the force was prepared for protest action and ready to respond. The conference falls on the same weekend as the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote northeast Arnhem Land. Mr Albanese is expected to attend the four-day event, with another senior leader to instead give the federal address to the state Labor faithful. With issues mounting after a decade in power, the Victorian Labor brand was viewed as a drag on the Albanese government's hopes for re-election in the lead-up to the May 3 poll. Labor ultimately retained all of its Victorian seats and added MPs for Deakin, Menzies and Melbourne to its ballooning lower-house benches in Canberra. Tensions within the Labor movement over policies on the Middle East loom over a key party love-in, as focus turns to preparing for Australia's next state election. A handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Victorian party's conference on Saturday, holding up images of Palestinian flags on their devices. While passed motions do not bind governments or the federal party, votes by rank-and-file members are set for later in the day on the AUKUS defence agreement and Middle East. The grassroots resolutions call for action against the "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine as well as withdrawing from AUKUS. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among hundreds of federal and state MPs, party members and union officials at Saturday's gathering. Mr Marles and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan were welcomed with standing ovations, with the latter's address firmly focused on the 2026 state election. Ms Allan promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Mr Marles spent much of his speech thanking Labor members for efforts to secure the party's thumping federal election win, with uncontroversial motions discussed at the start of the day. A coalition of groups are set to rally outside the venue to oppose the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Security was tightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps shielding public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan, who has warned people not to bring their "extremist behaviour" to the 2025 conference. "If they want to join the Labor party and be part of the debate and discussion inside the room, that's how you make a difference," she said. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the force was prepared for protest action and ready to respond. The conference falls on the same weekend as the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote northeast Arnhem Land. Mr Albanese is expected to attend the four-day event, with another senior leader to instead give the federal address to the state Labor faithful. With issues mounting after a decade in power, the Victorian Labor brand was viewed as a drag on the Albanese government's hopes for re-election in the lead-up to the May 3 poll. Labor ultimately retained all of its Victorian seats and added MPs for Deakin, Menzies and Melbourne to its ballooning lower-house benches in Canberra. Tensions within the Labor movement over policies on the Middle East loom over a key party love-in, as focus turns to preparing for Australia's next state election. A handful of members staged a silent protest against Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Victorian party's conference on Saturday, holding up images of Palestinian flags on their devices. While passed motions do not bind governments or the federal party, votes by rank-and-file members are set for later in the day on the AUKUS defence agreement and Middle East. The grassroots resolutions call for action against the "military occupation, siege and genocide" in Palestine as well as withdrawing from AUKUS. A similar resolution on Palestine passed at the state conference in 2024 after the terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the nation's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Labor's official platform backs Palestinian statehood but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not set a timeline for implementing the policy and recently declared it not imminent. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Transport Minister Catherine King and Skills Minister Andrew Giles were among hundreds of federal and state MPs, party members and union officials at Saturday's gathering. Mr Marles and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan were welcomed with standing ovations, with the latter's address firmly focused on the 2026 state election. Ms Allan promoted her newly unveiled plan to legalise the right to work from home while ramping up language favoured by Labor leaders, including referring to the opposition as "Tories" and "just Liberals". Mr Marles spent much of his speech thanking Labor members for efforts to secure the party's thumping federal election win, with uncontroversial motions discussed at the start of the day. A coalition of groups are set to rally outside the venue to oppose the "genocide in Gaza", forced administration of the CFMEU and incoming state protest laws. Security was tightened for the event after pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue in 2024, with attendees this year forced to show tickets multiple times and tarps shielding public view. The 2024 security breach led to the conference floor being locked down and delayed speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan, who has warned people not to bring their "extremist behaviour" to the 2025 conference. "If they want to join the Labor party and be part of the debate and discussion inside the room, that's how you make a difference," she said. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the force was prepared for protest action and ready to respond. The conference falls on the same weekend as the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory's remote northeast Arnhem Land. Mr Albanese is expected to attend the four-day event, with another senior leader to instead give the federal address to the state Labor faithful. With issues mounting after a decade in power, the Victorian Labor brand was viewed as a drag on the Albanese government's hopes for re-election in the lead-up to the May 3 poll. Labor ultimately retained all of its Victorian seats and added MPs for Deakin, Menzies and Melbourne to its ballooning lower-house benches in Canberra.
