‘Feeding civilians, not Hamas, must be the priority,’ says US envoy on rare Gaza visit

“The purpose of the visit was to give President Trump a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza,” Witkoff said on social media.

Soon after the visit, Palestinian medics reported that Israeli soldiers shot and killed three Palestinians near one of the foundation’s aid points. It was not immediately clear if it was the same site Witkoff had visited. The Israeli military said it was still investigating the incident, in which troops fired warning shots at what they called a “gathering of suspects” hundreds of metres from the aid site.

The UN has accused the GHF of delivering aid in a way that puts civilians at risk. It says more than 1,000 people have been killed while trying to get aid from GHF points since the group began operating in Gaza in May. Most were reportedly shot by Israeli forces near those sites.

“We will not partner with operations that violate humanitarian principles and put people in danger,” said the UN, which has refused to work with GHF.

GHF denies any deaths have occurred at its sites. Its spokesperson, Chapin Fay, said the foundation is “protecting aid better than the UN” and has delivered 100 million meals. Fay added: “President Trump understands the stakes in Gaza and that feeding civilians, not Hamas, must be the priority.”

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who accompanied Witkoff, shared an image of Gazans behind razor wire near a GHF poster with the American flag.

This handout photo from US Embassy Jerusalem shows White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, center, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, center left, visiting a food distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization approved by Israel, in Gaza City, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP)

Witkoff’s visit came a day after he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has been facing growing criticism over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The war started after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

On Friday, in addition to the three killed near a GHF site, medics said Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 12 more people. The Israeli military declined to comment on those reports.

Aid groups say hunger is worsening. Medics in Gaza report dozens of recent deaths from malnutrition. The UN says the hunger crisis grew after Israel cut off supplies for nearly three months earlier this year and continues to allow only limited aid to enter.

Israel says it has increased aid entry by pausing fighting in certain areas during parts of the day and designating routes for trucks. It also began food air drops this week, though the UN says that is not enough.

“If there is political will to allow airdrops — which are costly and limited there should be will to open road crossings,” said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Palestinian aid agency.

The Israeli military said 200 trucks entered Gaza with aid on Thursday. However, the UN says thousands of trucks are still waiting to be allowed in.

Some Western countries, including France, Britain and Canada, have responded to the crisis by saying they are considering recognising a Palestinian state.