US officers on uncommon go to to controversial Gaza support distribution web site

U.S. particular envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff arrived within the southern Gazan metropolis of Rafah Friday, the place he inspected an support distribution heart operated by the U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF).

Witkoff was accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who posted in regards to the go to on X, saying that they had gone to Gaza to “learn the truth” in regards to the support web site, including: “GHF delivers more than one million meals a day, an incredible feat!”

However the worldwide group has criticized the meals support system vociferously, saying individuals in Gaza are ravenous and have been shot attempting to get meals.

Witkoff and Huckabee would transient President Trump “immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region,” mentioned White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and additional particulars on future meals distribution mechanisms could be printed “once that plan is approved and agreed on” by the president.

Witkoff landed in Israel earlier this week to fulfill with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as U.N.-backed meals safety consultants reported {that a} famine was now unfolding in Gaza thanks partly to Israeli restrictions on support coming into the territory.

On the similar time different world leaders have referred to as on Israeli authorities to permit unrestricted support flows to stop additional civilian deaths. Not solely are every day deaths linked to hunger persevering with in Gaza, say native medics and worldwide support teams, however the U.N. reported that since Might greater than 800 individuals have been killed whereas attempting to entry meals from distribution websites run by the GHF.

FILE – President-elect Donald Trump listens to Steve Witkoff converse throughout a information convention at Mar-a-Lago, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Seashore, Fla.

Evan Vucci/AP

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Evan Vucci/AP

Hamas-run well being authorities within the Palestinian territory mentioned Thursday that at the very least 91 Palestinians had been killed, and round 600 wounded, whereas making an attempt to entry meals and support over simply the previous 24 hours. On Friday morning, much more Palestinians got here underneath fireplace from Israeli troops at one web site managed by the GHF, in keeping with NPR Information native producer in Gaza, Anas Babar.

The GHF was established to bypass the United Nations, and Israel has insisted on its continued operation, blaming Hamas for the violence that has typically surrounded the group’s websites.

However its stance on meals support restrictions has prompted France, the U.Ok. and Canada to announce plans to acknowledge a Palestinian state, with Britain saying this may occur in September except Israel modifications course. It is one thing Israel’s overseas minister, Gideon Sa’ar, insisted at a press convention this week would go away Hamas in energy, and “ain’t gonna happen.”

The U.S. State Division has mentioned it is going to impose visa-related sanctions on the Palestinian Authority, headquartered within the West Financial institution, as a result of its assist for instances towards Israel tied to the Gaza battle which are being heard at worldwide courts.

The Palestinian Authority has been pushing for larger worldwide recognition of Palestinian statehood, as a pathway to a future two-state resolution involving Israelis and Palestinians.

The escalating world and home outrage over Israel’s insurance policies relating to meals shortages in Gaza has prolonged to a number of different European international locations, and even to the U.S. Senate, the place a majority of Democrats this week voted to dam gross sales of particular American weapons to Israel.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israeli troops that keep a safety presence close to the handful of GHF websites in Gaza of finishing up struggle crimes throughout their actions towards Palestinian support seekers. NPR can not verify this report by HRW.

The rights group’s report, printed Friday, mentioned the “dire humanitarian situation is a direct result of Israel’s use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war—a war crime—as well as Israel’s continued intentional deprivation of aid and basic services, which amounts to the crime against humanity of extermination, and acts of genocide.”

Belkis Wille, affiliate disaster and battle director at HRW, mentioned within the report that “Israeli forces are not only deliberately starving Palestinian civilians, but they are now gunning them down almost every day as they desperately seek food for their families.”

Palestinians mourn a person killed whereas attempting to achieve support vans coming into northern Gaza via the Zikim crossing with Israel, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, Thursday, July 31, 2025.

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Jehad Alshrafi/AP

The help system put in place by contractors on the GHF, backed by the U.S., was “flawed” and “militarized,” Wille mentioned, and had “turned aid distributions into regular bloodbath.”

President Donald Trump mentioned he hopes Israel will make sure the supply of meals to ravenous Palestinians and forestall support diversion by Hamas.

In an interview with NBC, Trump described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a competent person” and mentioned his administration needed “to make sure people get fed.” He emphasised that “good management” would stop the theft of support, including, “Hopefully, the Israelis will provide that.”

When questioned by reporters about Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s characterization of Israel’s actions in Gaza this week as genocide, Trump responded, “It’s terrible what’s occurring there. It’s a terrible thing. People are very hungry.”

He reiterated his declare that the U.S. had supplied tens of millions in support to the GHF, however questions its efficacy.

“It’s a shame because I don’t see the results of it. We gave it to people who, in theory, are watching over it fairly closely. We wanted Israel to watch over it. Part of the problem is that Hamas is taking the money and they’re taking the food,” Trump mentioned.

Emily Feng in Tel Aviv and Anas Baba in Gaza contributed reporting.