US Pledges Gaza Food Relief Following Envoy Visit

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 2nd August 2025, 2:25 PM

US Pledges Gaza Food Relief Following Envoy Visit

Photo: Collected

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy has pledged a new initiative to deliver increased food aid to Gaza following a field visit to a US-backed humanitarian centre, even as the United Nations reports that Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians waiting for aid in recent months.

Events and Statements

Date/Event	Details
Visit of US Envoy Steve Witkoff	Spent over five hours in Gaza, inspecting a US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution centre.
Objective of Visit	To brief President Trump on the humanitarian situation and develop a food and medical aid strategy for Gaza.
Trump’s Statement (via Axios)	“We want to get people fed. It is something that should have happened long time ago.”
Death Toll (Since 27 May)	1,373 Palestinians killed while seeking aid; 859 near GHF sites, 514 along UN/NGO convoy routes (UN human rights office).
Latest Casualties (2 days in July)	105 killed.

Rising Death Toll and International Alarm

According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Palestine, the vast majority of deaths occurred at or near aid points, implicating the Israeli military in most of the killings.
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that 22 Palestinians, including 8 waiting for food, were killed on Friday by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes.
The total death toll from Israel’s offensive stands at 60,249 Palestinians, most of whom are civilians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

Human Rights Watch Report: Aid Centres Becoming “Bloodbaths”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the situation as one where the Israeli military is:

“Not only deliberately starving Palestinian civilians, but now gunning them down almost every day as they desperately seek food.”

HRW Allegation	Response from Israeli Military
Militarised aid distribution turning into “regular bloodbaths”	Claimed GHF operates independently, said troops work to ensure orderly aid delivery and to minimise friction.
Starvation as a weapon of war	Accused Hamas of interfering with aid delivery and stated it is conducting a review of reported deaths.

GHF’s Role and Milestones

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), reportedly overshadowing the traditional UN-led aid distribution system, celebrated the delivery of its 100 millionth meal during Witkoff’s visit.
However, the aid model has drawn criticism for becoming over-militarised and unsafe for the desperate civilian population.

Diplomatic Responses and Growing Pressure

Leader/Organisation	Reaction/Statement
German Foreign Minister Wadephul	Warned of a “humanitarian disaster beyond imagination”; urged Israel to prevent mass starvation.
Netanyahu	Reaffirmed goal of destroying Hamas and rescuing hostages taken in October 2023.
BBC Investigative Report	Documented 160+ children shot, with 95 hit in the head or chest; some allegedly by Israeli forces.
Israeli Military Response	Denied targeting civilians, stated harm to children strictly prohibited under international law.

Hostages and Ongoing War Impact

Event	Figures/Details
Hamas Attack (October 2023)	1,219 Israelis killed, mostly civilians.
Hostages Taken by Hamas	251 individuals taken; 49 remain in Gaza, 27 confirmed dead.
Hamas Video Release (Post-Witkoff Visit)	Footage of 24-year-old hostage Evyatar David, visibly emaciated in a concrete tunnel.

Media Limitations and Verification Challenges

Due to severe restrictions on media access in Gaza and disrupted infrastructure, independent verification of death tolls and incident details by international agencies such as AFP remains extremely limited.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies, Washington’s promise of a new food delivery strategy is seen as a potential turning point. However, continued bloodshed, mounting international outrage, and conflicting narratives between aid agencies and the Israeli military signal that significant challenges remain ahead.