Trump envoy visits controversial Gaza aid distribution site

August 1, 2025

US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site in southern Gaza, accompanied by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the Israel Defense Forces. The visit aimed to assess the humanitarian situation in Gaza amid controversy over the GHF distribution sites, where the UN reports at least 859 Palestinians have been killed, though the GHF rejects this figure. Critics, including Gaza residents and human rights organizations, condemned the visit as a "media stunt" that fails to address the root causes of suffering in Gaza.

Who is affected

Palestinian civilians in Gaza, particularly those seeking aid at distribution sites
Displaced people in Gaza facing hunger and starvation
Victims of shootings near GHF sites (UN reports 859 Palestinians killed near these sites)
Residents of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah affected by Israeli airstrikes
Hostages held by Hamas
Aid workers and contractors operating at the GHF sites

What action is being taken

Steve Witkoff and Mike Huckabee are visiting Gaza to assess the humanitarian situation
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is distributing meals at three sites, claiming to deliver 1.3 million meals in a single day
Israel and the US are discussing a reformulated ceasefire proposal
Seven countries (Belgium, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, France, Spain, and Germany) are airdropping aid packages into Gaza
Israeli forces are conducting military operations in Gaza, including airstrikes in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah
Human Rights Watch is calling for Israel to stop using lethal force as crowd control at aid sites

Why it matters

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels with UN agencies warning of man-made mass starvation
The controversial GHF aid distribution system has replaced UN mechanisms, raising concerns about militarized aid delivery
The UN reports high civilian casualties at aid distribution sites, challenging Israel's claims of only firing warning shots
International journalists are blocked from independently entering Gaza, making verification of claims difficult
The situation impacts ongoing ceasefire negotiations, with Hamas refusing to return to talks until more aid enters Gaza
US involvement in the GHF system has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and former US officials

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC