White House special envoy Steve Witkoff waits for the arrival of President Donald Trump at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, N.J., en route to attend the Club World Cup final soccer match, Sunday, July 13, 2025.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point. As desperation grows, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, landed in Israel on Thursday. His mission: to assess food aid distribution and push for emergency relief measures.
Deaths Mount as Hunger Grows
In just 24 hours, 91 Palestinians were killed and over 600 wounded while trying to collect food, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Many victims were near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza when gunfire erupted.
Israel’s military claimed it only fired warning shots and denied causing casualties. A security official alleged that the violence came from within the crowd. Still, overwhelmed hospitals are struggling to count and treat the injured, many of whom remain in isolated areas.
Chaos Over Airdropped Aid
With border crossings closed, aid groups have turned to airdrops. But these efforts are turning dangerous. On Thursday, residents in Zawaida ran toward parachuting parcels of food. The result was chaos.
People screamed, pushed, and fought over the limited supplies. Some were injured in the scramble. Eslam al-Telbany, a mother from Jabaliya, said she was attacked and bitten while trying to bring food home.
“My children prayed I’d return with something. They haven’t eaten or had water in two days,” she said through tears.
Ahmed al-Khatib lost a tooth in a fight over a sack of flour. Rana Attia, another displaced woman, said people prefer organized aid collection via text alerts over frantic runs for falling parcels. “We don’t want help this way,” she said.
Aid Still Far Below Needed Levels
Relief remains critically insufficient. Humanitarian agencies say Gaza needs 500–600 aid trucks daily. On Wednesday, only 270 trucks entered, and 32 pallets were airdropped.
Under global pressure, Israel recently agreed to ease aid access. Still, international groups warn it’s too little, too late. After over two months of aid blockade, famine is now taking hold. The crisis, once feared, is becoming reality.
Germany Urges Immediate Action
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also arrived in Israel on Thursday. During his visit to both Israel and the West Bank, he criticized Israel’s limited humanitarian response.
Though Germany is a traditional ally of Israel, Berlin is now urging stronger aid measures and a ceasefire. Wadephul reiterated support for a two-state solution, calling it the only viable path to long-term peace.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state should come at the end of the process,” he said. “But that process must start now.”
High-Stakes Diplomacy in Motion
Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon after arriving. It was their first meeting since both nations withdrew their negotiators from talks in Qatar last week.
Trump, in a Truth Social post, doubled down on his stance. “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” he wrote.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump dispatched Witkoff “to save lives and end this crisis,” describing the president as “a humanitarian with a big heart.”
War’s Brutal Toll
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly assault on southern Israel. Around 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 251 hostages were taken. About 50 remain in captivity, with 20 believed to be alive.
Israel’s military response has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports. While the figures include both civilians and fighters, the U.N. considers the ministry a credible source despite its ties to Hamas.
As diplomats push for a breakthrough and humanitarian workers race against starvation, the people of Gaza remain trapped—starving, wounded, and waiting for relief.
