In Gaza, tragedy struck as 13 individuals lost their lives while seeking humanitarian aid shortly after a visit by two prominent U.S. officials to a distribution center. On Friday, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, and Mike Huckabee, the Washington ambassador to Israel, inspected a facility operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza.
This marked the first high-profile U.S. official visit to Gaza since the conflict erupted in October 2023. The visit happened amidst global condemnation of the severe food shortages, chaos, and deadly incidents near aid distribution points. Witkoff stated that the main objective of the visit was to develop a new aid strategy for the war-torn region, where food scarcity persists, and deliveries are being conducted via airdrops.
All four GHF sites are situated in areas under Israeli military control and have become hotspots of desperation during their operational period, with desperate individuals vying for limited aid supplies. According to the UN, over 1,000 people have lost their lives while attempting to access aid in Gaza since the GHF commenced its operations in May, with most casualties attributed to Israeli forces near GHF facilities.
The Israeli military contends that they have only used warning shots against those approaching their positions, while GHF asserts that their armed personnel have resorted to pepper spray or warning shots to prevent dangerous overcrowding. Witkoff’s visit comes on the heels of U.S. officials walking away from ceasefire discussions in Qatar a week earlier, accusing Hamas and pledging to explore alternative methods to safeguard Israeli captives and ensure Gaza’s security.
At least 25 Palestinians were reported killed on Friday, with Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza receiving the bodies, including those from the vicinity of the U.S. officials’ visit site. GHF refuted claims of casualties at their locations that day, attributing recent incidents to events near UN aid convoys. The remaining fatalities were linked to airstrikes, with no immediate response from Israel’s military.
Witnesses recounted heartbreaking stories such as Salman Al-Faqawi’s 12-year-old nephew Rayan being fatally shot while seeking food at the GHF aid hub in Rafah due to extreme hunger. Desperate pleas for an end to violence and the facilitation of aid deliveries were voiced by Abdullah Asfour, who narrowly escaped tank fire en route to the same aid station. International organizations have warned of an impending famine in Gaza, exacerbated by aid delivery challenges and food hoarding.
Human Rights Watch criticized the current aid distribution system as flawed and militarized, leading to deadly altercations during aid handouts. The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll, with over 60,000 Palestinian lives lost since October 7, 2023, following retaliatory actions by Israel in response to Hamas-led attacks resulting in significant casualties and hostage situations.