U.S. envoy visits distribution site in Gaza as humanitarian crisis worsens
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff visited southern Gaza on Friday during international outrage over starvation, shortages and deadly chaos near aid distribution sites.
Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee toured one of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's distribution sites in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, according to an official involved with the visit.
The official requested anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.
All four of the group's distribution sites are in zones controlled by the Israeli military and throughout their months in operation have become flashpoints of desperation, where starving people scramble for scarce aid. Hundreds have been killed by either gunfire or trampling.
The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots at people who approach its forces, and GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding.
Witkoff's visit comes a week after U.S. officials walked away from ceasefire talks in Qatar, blaming Hamas and pledging to seek other ways to rescue Israeli hostages and make Gaza safe.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that he was sent to craft a plan to boost food and aid deliveries as part of an effort 'to save lives and end this crisis,' while Trump wrote on social media that the fastest way to end the crisis would be for Hamas to surrender and release hostages.
International organizations have said Gaza has been on the brink of famine for the past two years. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the leading international authority on food crises, said recent developments, including a complete blockade on aid for 2 1/2 months, mean the 'worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in Gaza.'
Though the flow of aid has resumed, including via airdrops, the amount getting into Gaza remains far lower than what aid organizations say is needed. A security breakdown in the territory has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving Palestinians, much of the limited aid entering is horded and later sold at exorbitant prices.
In a report issued Friday, Human Rights Watch called it 'a flawed, militarized aid distribution system that has turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths.'
Israel's military and prime minister's office did not respond to request for comment on the report.
A July 30 video published Thursday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs showed an aid convoy driving past a border crossing as gunfire ricocheted off the ground near where crowds congregated.
'We were met on the road by tens of thousands of hungry and desperate people who directly offloaded everything from the backs of our trucks,' said Olga Cherevko, an OCHA staff member.
The war between Israel and Hamas started when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. They still hold 50 hostages, including around 20 believed to be alive. Most of the others have been released in ceasefires or other deals.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The UN and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
___
Metz reported from Jerusalem and Frankel from Tel Aviv, Israel.
Wafaa Shurafa, Sam Metz And Julia Frankel, The Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
Trump says he plans to put a 100% tariff on computer chips, likely increasing cost of electronics
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will impose a 100 per cent tariff on computer chips, likely raising the cost of electronics, autos, household appliances and other goods deemed essential for the digital age. 'We'll be putting a tariff on of approximately 100 per cent on chips and semiconductors,' Trump said in the Oval Office while meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook. 'But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge.' The Republican president said companies that make computer chips in the U.S. would be spared the import tax. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of computer chips increased the price of autos and contributed to an overall uptick in inflation. Demand for computer chips has been climbing worldwide, with sales increasing 19.6 per cent in the year-ended in June, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization. Trump's tariff threats mark a significant break from existing plans to revive computer chip production in the United States. He is choosing an approach that favours the proverbial stick over carrots in order to incentivize more production. Essentially, the president is betting that higher chip costs would force most companies to open factories domestically, despite the risk that tariffs could squeeze corporate profits and push up prices for mobile phones, TVs and refrigerators. By contrast, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act signed into law in 2022 by then-President Joe Biden provided more than US$50 billion to support new computer chip plants, fund research and train workers for the industry. The mix of funding support, tax credits and other financial incentives were meant to draw in private investment, a strategy that Trump has vocally opposed. Josh Boak, The Associated Press
Globe and Mail
17 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Trump to impose a 100% tariff on computer chips, likely raising cost of electronics
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will impose a 100-per-cent tariff on computer chips, likely raising the cost of electronics, autos, household appliances and other goods deemed essential for the digital age. 'We'll be putting a tariff of approximately 100 per cent on chips and semiconductors,' Trump said in the Oval Office while meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook. 'But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge.' The Republican president said companies that make computer chips in the U.S. would be spared the import tax. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of computer chips increased the price of autos and contributed to an overall uptick in inflation. Inquiries sent to chip makers Nvidia and Intel were not immediately answered. Demand for computer chips has been climbing worldwide, with sales increasing 19.6 per cent in the year-ended in June, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization. Trump's tariff threats mark a significant break from existing plans to revive computer chip production in the United States. He is choosing an approach that favors the proverbial stick over carrots in order to incentivize more production. Essentially, the president is betting that higher chip costs would force most companies to open factories domestically, despite the risk that tariffs could squeeze corporate profits and push up prices for mobile phones, TVs and refrigerators. By contrast, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act signed into law in 2022 by then-President Joe Biden provided more than US$50-billion to support new computer chip plants, fund research and train workers for the industry. The mix of funding support, tax credits and other financial incentives were meant to draw in private investment, a strategy that Trump has vocally opposed.
CBC
18 minutes ago
- CBC
Ontario premier warns Trump could reopen CUSMA trade pact, calls for action to bolster economy
Social Sharing Ontario Premier Doug Ford is warning that U.S. President Donald Trump could choose to suddenly "pull the carpet out from underneath us" by opening up the trade agreement his administration negotiated with Canada during his first term. He said Ottawa needs to prepare for that to happen this fall. Ford made the comments after the country's premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in private for the first time since Trump escalated his trade war by hitting Canada with a baseline 35 per cent tariff last week. The new tariff, which took effect on Friday after the two countries failed to hit an Aug. 1 deadline to secure a new trade agreement, applies only to goods not covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on free trade, better known as CUSMA. Ford said Trump likely won't wait for the scheduled review of the agreement next year. "He's not waiting until 2026. At any given time, President Trump — not that he even follows the rules — he can pull the carpet out from underneath us on CUSMA tomorrow with one signature," Ford told reporters at Queen's Park in Toronto Wednesday afternoon as he called for swift action to bolster the economy. "So let's be prepared. I think it'll be coming in November. He's going to come at us with double barrels, so we better be ready and throw everything and the kitchen sink at this." 'They understand strength, not weakness': Ford Ontario is at odds with Saskatchewan over Canada's response to the escalating trade war. Ford has called for immediate retaliation, while Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is urging Ottawa to dial down its retaliatory tariffs. "Maybe it's time for Canada even to at least not add additional counter-tariffs in this space, but to even consider removing some of the counter-tariffs that are harmful to Canadian businesses and Saskatchewan businesses today," Moe said during a radio interview earlier Wednesday, adding the country is currently largely "protected" under the CUSMA trade pact. WATCH | Why isn't the North American free trade deal being upheld?: Why isn't the North American free trade deal being upheld? 2 hours ago One user on TikTok asked us: Why isn't the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) being upheld? The CBC's Katie Simpson was live, taking your questions about Canada-U.S. trade. Ahead of the meeting with Carney, Ford said he's frustrated by the impacts of high U.S. tariffs on his province's economy and called again for retaliatory tariffs. "You can't have tariffs on one side and not the other. I still stand by what I say — dollar for dollar, tariff for tariff. They understand strength, not weakness, and we should never, ever roll over and be weak," Ford told reporters at a news conference Wednesday in Thornhill, Ont. Ford said he told Carney and the premiers that if Ottawa chooses not to hike tariffs in its response, the threshold at which steel products become subject to tariffs should be lowered. "If people are concerned about hitting back, well, then there's the other alternative. Let's lower the quota for companies. When they come in, they get tariffs immediately," Ford said following the meeting with Carney. Moe said his province is working to protect industries that are being hit hard by tariffs, including the steel sector. "What we've done is pull forward a significant amount — 10 years, actually — of Crown procurement to support the steel industries here in Saskatchewan," he said. Moe gave credit to Carney for his government's efforts to strengthen trade ties with other countries, including Mexico, particularly while Canada remains subject to China's canola oil and meal tariffs. When asked to explain why his government ended up putting American liquor back on the shelves and returning to its standard procurement processes, Moe said the government already prioritizes Saskatchewan companies. "We need to get to that space in a more solid form with our largest trading partner, the United States of America, and someone is going to have to take the early steps," he said, noting Alberta has also shifted its policies.\ Ford wants interest rates cut Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office said she would not be issuing any statements ahead of the meeting. Ford also called for large industrial projects that could lift national morale and make use of Canadian steel, something on the scale of building "an aircraft carrier." He called on Ottawa to cut taxes and said the Bank of Canada should drop its interest rate. "We have to get the governor of the Bank of Canada to lower those damn interest rates from 2.75," he said. "Knock 'em down. Build confidence." "Let's work together on getting rid of the HST on homebuyers, and not just first (time) ones. Let's stimulate the market and we'll follow suit if the federal government does that." Ford also said Wednesday he had a "good conversation" with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday that was "positive," and he believes the "prime minister is doing everything in his power to get a fair trade deal with the U.S." Carney, who did not make himself available to media Wednesday, told a press conference in B.C. on Tuesday that he has not talked to Trump in recent days but would speak with him "when it makes sense." The prime minister added about 85 per cent of trade with the U.S. remains tariff-free because of CUSMA. Sector-specific tariffs, like the 50 per cent duty on steel, aluminum and copper, remain in place. Carney also suggested he may lift counter-tariffs if that helps Canada in the ongoing trade dispute. "We look at what we can do for our industry that's most effective. In some cases, that will be to remove tariffs," he said Tuesday. WATCH | What could come from trade talks between Canada and Mexico?: What could come from trade talks between Canada and Mexico? 24 hours ago With cabinet ministers meeting with Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, Power & Politics hears from Juan Carlos Baker, former CUSMA trade negotiator and Mexico's former vice minister of international trade about the relationship between the two countries. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne were in Mexico City on Wednesday, part of a two-day mission to meet with Mexican officials and businesses on trade. The Opposition Conservatives are fundraising off Carney's response to the escalating trade war. "He ran his entire campaign on elbows up," said a Tory fundraising email Wednesday. "But his elbows dropped faster than temperatures in a Canadian winter while Trump put tariffs up."
