Aid distribution site in Rafah welcomes US diplomat Steve Witkoff amidst worsening starvation predicament
In a bid to address the worsening starvation crisis in Gaza, Steve Witkoff, the United States special envoy to the Middle East, visited the region on July 31, 2025. Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Witkoff's mission was to inspect the ongoing humanitarian aid operations and evaluate the situation on the ground.
The visit comes at a critical juncture, with reports of increasing starvation among Gaza's nearly 2.1 million residents. Witkoff had earlier discussed the humanitarian plight with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and planned to press for increased humanitarian aid while the Israeli military operations continued.
During his visit, Witkoff was scheduled to tour Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites and meet Palestinians directly to assess the dire situation. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the ongoing food and aid deliveries amidst severe blockages and the critical humanitarian situation.
Following his visit, Witkoff and Huckabee are expected to brief President Trump, who has expressed concern over reports of starving children and promised to ramp up humanitarian aid. Trump has also called on Israel and other Western countries to contribute to the relief efforts.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with thousands of Palestinians having been killed or wounded awaiting aid. In the 24 hours before Witkoff’s arrival, at least 91 deaths were reported by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, many of which were targeting those waiting for food near aid crossings.
The visit underscores the urgent need to address both the humanitarian crisis and the stalled negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release involving Hamas.
This is not Witkoff's first visit to Gaza. In fact, he visited the enclave shortly after President Trump took office in January, making him the first US official to visit Gaza in more than a decade. His second visit to Gaza is a testament to the ongoing commitment of the U.S. to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The White House will provide more details once the plan is approved and agreed upon by the President of the United States. This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.
[1] CNN's Betsy Klein contributed reporting to this article. [2] The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the visit and the plan for food and aid distribution. [3] United States special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has arrived at a US-backed food aid site in Gaza. [4] Steve Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are scheduled to travel to Gaza on Friday.
- In light of the escalating war-and-conflicts and the dire humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, Steve Witkoff, the United States special envoy to the Middle East, visited the region on July 31, 2025, to evaluate the situation on the ground and press for increased humanitarian aid.
- As political tensions between Israel and Palestine continue and general news headlines are dominated by reports of starvation, war, and conflicts in the Middle East, the visit of Steve Witkoff, the United States special envoy to the Middle East, to Gaza serves as a reminder of the world's attention on the ongoing crisis.
