U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where 91 Palestinians were killed and over 600 injured in the past 24 hours while seeking aid, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, operating under Hamas, reported 54 deaths in a Wednesday incident near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza, with the toll likely to rise due to unreported casualties in isolated hospitals. The Israeli military claimed it fired warning shots into a crowd surrounding aid trucks, denying responsibility for injuries, while a security official, speaking anonymously, alleged gunfire came from within the crowd during altercations over aid access.
Witkoff, appointed by President Donald Trump, is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the crisis and prospects for a ceasefire, following the collapse of Qatar-mediated talks a week ago. On July 24, Witkoff withdrew the U.S. team from Doha, citing Hamas’s “lack of desire” for a truce after its response to a proposed 60-day ceasefire involving the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages’ remains. Hamas, which launched the war with its October 7, 2023, attack killing 1,200 Israelis and abducting 251, still holds 50 hostages, about 20 believed alive. Israel’s offensive has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, per Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians but is considered reliable by the UN.
Israel, under international pressure, allowed 270 aid trucks and 32 airdropped pallets into Gaza on Wednesday, far below the 500–600 trucks daily needed to avert famine, per aid agencies. The UN World Food Programme reported 95% of Gaza’s 2.2 million people face severe water shortages, with 100,000 women and children suffering acute malnutrition. A 2.5-month aid blockade until May 2025 exacerbated conditions, with the World Health Organization labeling the situation “man-made mass starvation.” On July 27, 85 Palestinians were killed seeking food, prompting UN accusations of Israeli forces firing on civilians, though Israel claimed the toll was inflated and cited warning shots.
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Witkoff’s visit, his first to Israel since January 29, follows meetings with Netanyahu’s aides in Miami and Washington. He may tour Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor, where Israel partially withdrew under a January 19 ceasefire, allowing 376,000 displaced Palestinians to return north. The ceasefire, brokered by Witkoff, Qatar, and Egypt, included 33 hostage releases for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners but stalled in March over Hamas’s demand for a permanent truce and Israel’s insistence on dismantling Hamas. Witkoff’s push for humanitarian corridors aligns with Trump’s directive to secure hostages and stabilize Gaza, though analysts question his influence, given Netanyahu’s resistance to ending the war.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, arriving in Israel later Thursday, echoed calls for increased aid and a ceasefire, emphasizing a two-state solution as “the only way” for peace. Germany, a key Israeli ally, has grown critical of Israel’s actions, with Wadephul warning of “reactions” to unilateral steps, though stopping short of recognizing Palestine, unlike France, Britain, and Canada. In Jerusalem, thousands, including hostage families, protested Wednesday outside Netanyahu’s office, demanding an end to the war. As Gaza faces famine and ongoing violence, Witkoff’s talks aim to break the deadlock, but Hamas’s insistence on permanent peace and Israel’s military objectives remain formidable barriers.
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