Islamabad: A special envoy from the United States, Steve Witkoff, visited a humanitarian food distribution site in Gaza on Friday, where the UN rights office reported that Israeli forces had killed hundreds of Palestinians who were waiting for aid.
The visit comes amid mounting international criticism and accusations of war crimes against Israel, and coincided with a report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), which condemned Israeli forces for engaging in what it termed as “regular bloodbaths” at aid sites backed by the US.
The UN’s rights office revealed that at least 1,373 people had died while seeking food and assistance in Gaza since May 27, with 859 of these deaths occurring near US-supported food distribution points.
Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, asserting that Israeli forces were not only preventing civilians from accessing food but also shooting them down as they sought to feed their families.
Belkis Wille, HRW’s associate director for crises and conflict, remarked, “Israeli forces are now gunning down desperate civilians nearly every day as they seek food for their families.”
Despite the ongoing violence, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the United States, continues its mission to provide aid.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, posted on social media that he and Witkoff had visited the food distribution sites to understand the situation firsthand. Huckabee praised the foundation’s efforts, which deliver over a million meals a day to Gaza’s residents.
Meanwhile, Israeli author and peace activist David Grossman condemned his country’s military operations in Gaza, calling them “genocide.” Speaking to La Repubblica, Grossman said that for years, he refrained from using the term “genocide,” but after witnessing the devastation and talking to those affected, he felt compelled to use it.
Grossman expressed his sorrow, stating, “I am using the term with immense pain and a broken heart.”
Witkoff’s visit included talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on addressing the ongoing conflict and humanitarian concerns
Discussions focused on the plight of civilians, the provision of aid, and the potential release of Israeli prisoners. This visit underscores the US’s involvement in seeking a resolution, though the humanitarian toll continues to rise.
