Trump Envoy Witkoff Meets Netanyahu Amid Gaza Hunger Crisis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel to address Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis, as over 90 Palestinians were killed seeking aid. Discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu are expected to focus on ceasefire prospects and aid access. The visit comes amid global criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and a growing death toll.
Trump Envoy in Israel as Gaza Toll Rises: Quick Looks
- Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in Israel for urgent talks
- At least 91 Palestinians killed in 24 hours seeking food aid
- Israel claims it fired warning shots; crowd violence cited for deaths
- Aid trickles into Gaza; far below required levels
- U.S. envoy to meet Netanyahu on aid access and ceasefire
- German foreign minister also visits; urges immediate action
- International criticism of Israel’s Gaza strategy intensifies
- Over 60,000 Palestinians reported killed since war began in Oct. 2023
Deep Look: Trump Envoy Arrives in Israel Amid Gaza Deaths and Rising Global Pressure
Amid soaring death tolls and growing international condemnation, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Israel Thursday to meet with top Israeli leaders. His visit comes just hours after new reports from Gaza revealed that more than 91 Palestinians were killed in a 24-hour period while attempting to access humanitarian aid.
Witkoff, a key figure in the Trump administration’s diplomatic outreach, is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss possible terms for a ceasefire, expanded humanitarian access, and broader stabilization efforts in the region. The talks mark the first direct U.S.-Israeli engagement since both countries recalled negotiators from Qatar last week.
“This is a critical moment,” said a U.S. official speaking anonymously. “The humanitarian picture in Gaza is worsening by the day.”
Meanwhile, Trump said Thursday that, in order to end the ongoing hunger in Gaza, the Hamas terror group should surrender and release the 50 hostages it is holding, 49 of whom were kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, massacre that sparked the war in Gaza. The other is an IDF soldier killed in Gaza in 2014, whose body has been held by Hamas since then.
“The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Aid-Linked Deaths Mount in Northern Gaza
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 54 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza during what it described as a chaotic incident involving gunfire while civilians sought aid. An additional 600 people were injured in aid-related violence across the region over the previous day.
The Israeli military claimed it had fired only warning shots to disperse large crowds and denied knowledge of any fatalities caused by its soldiers. A security official, speaking under anonymity due to military policy, said the fatalities were likely caused by intra-crowd violence or local gunfire from Palestinians struggling to access dwindling food supplies.
Many casualties have yet to be fully accounted for due to the overwhelmed state of smaller hospitals in northern Gaza, where infrastructure and supply lines have been devastated by nearly two years of continuous warfare.
Diplomatic Push for Ceasefire Talks
Witkoff’s visit represents the Trump administration’s latest attempt to broker a pathway toward de-escalation. Though the envoy previously said Hamas’s recent positions showed “a lack of desire” to reach an agreement, the growing toll among civilians has spurred renewed U.S. efforts.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, thousands gathered near Netanyahu’s office Wednesday to protest the ongoing war and demand the release of hostages. Around 50 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks remain in captivity, with approximately 20 believed to still be alive.
That attack, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and over 250 taken hostage, prompted Israel’s retaliatory offensive—an operation that has now killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While Israel disputes the figures, international observers including the United Nations rely on the ministry as the most consistent data source.
Aid Deliveries Lag Behind Demand
In response to sustained international pressure, Israel announced limited new aid measures over the past week. On Wednesday, 270 aid trucks entered Gaza, alongside 32 airdropped pallets of supplies. But humanitarian groups stress that these numbers are well below the 500 to 600 trucks needed daily to meet minimal survival thresholds for the population.
“This is no longer a looming famine. The worst-case scenario is already happening,” warned a U.N. humanitarian official.
Gaza has been under a full Israeli blockade for more than two months, which aid groups say has decimated food distribution, health care, and clean water access for over two million civilians.
International Criticism Intensifies
Adding to mounting pressure, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Israel Thursday for a two-day visit. Germany has long been considered a staunch ally of Israel, but Wadephul’s tone reflects a shift in Berlin’s stance.
“A two-state solution remains the only viable path forward,” he said in a statement before departure. “While Germany does not support unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state at this time, the process must begin now.”
Wadephul’s remarks echo calls from France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, all of whom announced they will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel significantly changes course in Gaza.
Germany has not joined that movement, but Wadephul emphasized that continued humanitarian failures would force Berlin to “react to unilateral steps,” suggesting a reevaluation of Germany’s diplomatic posture toward Israel.
What’s Next for U.S.-Israel Talks?
Witkoff’s meeting with Netanyahu will likely center on finding ways to increase aid flows, establish localized ceasefires, and possibly resume negotiations that could lead to a broader truce. However, expectations for immediate progress remain low.
While Israel maintains that its operations are focused on dismantling Hamas infrastructure, critics argue that indiscriminate bombing and aid restrictions amount to collective punishment of civilians.
The Trump administration, which has resisted formally recognizing a Palestinian state, remains caught between its pro-Israel stance and mounting international calls to address Gaza’s humanitarian collapse.
Witkoff’s visit signals that even Washington sees the current trajectory as unsustainable. Whether that results in any meaningful change on the ground remains to be seen.
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