Rare visit Sean Steve Witkoff, the special envoy on the Middle East quartet, made a notable trip to Gaza. This is his second visit to the Pacific Islands region since taking office in January. Witkoff’s US Embassy team visiting an aid distribution site in Rafah on Tuesday, underscoring the severity of the crisis. On one unfortunate occasion in recent weeks, hundreds of Palestinians were killed as they lined up at US-supported distribution centers. The problem has gotten worse than ever. International Middle East Media Center reports now tell us that Israeli military has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians while attempting to obtain food.
Witkoff’s visit would be a very important turning point. He would be the first US official to visit Gaza in more than 10 years. With Huckabee in tow, he wanted to see what was happening on the ground and meet with local people. The aid site he visited is managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization established in May after Israel raised concerns that UN aid was potentially benefiting Hamas.
The GHF has quickly become an indispensable resource in efforts to meet the needs of Gazans during the intensifying conflict. The foundation’s establishment followed scrutiny of aid distribution practices, and its operations have been framed within the context of recent internal US government reviews. Reports from these reviews have found no evidence of pervasive or systematic diversion by Hamas of US-funded humanitarian assistance. This conclusion has resulted, in turn, in highly provocative debates about the provision of international aid in Gaza.
Witkoff’s mission called for an in-depth look at current distribution hubs. Along with this, he ensured the security of plans to deliver fresh food provision. His team plans to “brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region,” according to Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the envoy.
“To inspect the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food and meet with local Gazans to hear firsthand about this dire situation on the ground.” – Karoline Leavitt
The urgency of Witkoff’s visit is all the more clear given the tragic context in which aid is being distributed. Recent news reports describe the horrific situation, where Palestinian people are dying as they work to receive much-needed humanitarian aid. This pressing reality underscores the serious imperative for better aid approaches. Through dialogue and building relationships, the envoy meets with local leaders and residents. We hope their insights will be factored into future actions taken by the US government to respond to this unprecedented crisis.
As Witkoff and Huckabee get ready to bring their plans to completion, the future in Gaza is more up in the air than ever. Their findings and recommendations will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the US response to ongoing humanitarian challenges in the region.
