Why Trump’s envoy is visiting Gaza and what it means for the deepening humanitarian crisis

Why Trump’s envoy is visiting Gaza

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, will travel to Gaza on Friday alongside US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, as mounting international pressure builds over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the enclave. The visit marks the first by a senior American official to one of the controversial aid distribution sites since widespread reports of starvation, deadly chaos, and mounting civilian deaths began surfacing, the New York Times reported.

Mission to develop new aid delivery plan

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Witkoff and Huckabee will assess operations on the ground and meet with Palestinian residents before briefing President Trump on a final plan to increase food and medical supply deliveries into Gaza. The visit follows a rare in-person meeting between Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem earlier this week.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation under fire

The pair is scheduled to visit a distribution point managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American group with close ties to the Trump administration. The foundation began operations in May but has faced sharp criticism for operating only in Israeli-controlled zones and for failing to protect civilians during aid delivery. Gaza’s health ministry claims at least 91 people were killed in the past 24 hours while trying to access aid—many allegedly shot by Israeli soldiers. The military denies targeting civilians, saying it fired warning shots.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

The visit comes at a dire moment. A UN-backed food security agency warned this week that famine is now underway across Gaza, exacerbated by Israel’s earlier decision to block food shipments between March and May. The Israeli government, backed by the Trump administration, claims without evidence that Hamas routinely steals aid from UN convoys—an accusation the UN has refuted. Reports of children dying from starvation have ignited outrage both within Israel and abroad.

Shifting US stance and stalled diplomacy

President Trump on Thursday shifted his tone on the crisis, calling for Hamas to release hostages as “the fastest way” to end suffering. This comes after days of criticism that the US has not done enough to pressure Israel to ease conditions. Witkoff is also the lead US negotiator in the now-halted cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas. Those negotiations broke down in March, and the number of hostages believed to be alive in Gaza is shrinking, with Israeli officials estimating that some have died.

Growing pressure from global allies

International criticism of Israel's conduct is intensifying. This week, Canada joined Britain and France in recognizing a Palestinian state, reflecting growing frustration among key Western allies. Meanwhile, protests are escalating within Israel itself, including a demonstration by hostage families outside Netanyahu’s office demanding a deal to bring their relatives home. Sixteen Israeli law professors issued a legal warning Thursday accusing the government of grave international law violations in Gaza, calling the suffering a “moral stain” on Israeli society.

As Witkoff’s convoy prepares to enter Gaza, all eyes are on whether this high-profile visit signals a shift in US policy—or if it will be remembered as another symbolic gesture in a crisis that continues to spiral.