US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Gaza to inspect food distribution sites, marking his second visit to the region since President Donald Trump took office. The White House announced the trip, highlighting efforts to assess aid delivery amid ongoing challenges. Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the week, following a breakdown in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, which the US and Israel attributed to the group’s stance. The visit coincides with a UN humanitarian update reporting worsening conditions, including soaring malnutrition-related deaths and obstacles to aid access. The UN noted that 162 Palestinians, including 92 children, have died from starvation, with famine conditions tightening across the Gaza Strip. On the same day, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor documented dozens of elderly deaths in displacement camps due to starvation, malnutrition, or lack of treatment. Jordan’s King Abdullah II described the situation as the worst humanitarian catastrophe in modern history, urging international pressure to end the conflict, now in its 22nd month. Meanwhile, Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu stated that returning captives held in Gaza should not be the primary war goal, a view contested by the Hostages and Missing Families forum, which emphasized public support for their immediate return. The visit follows Canada’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state, a move Trump warned could impact US-Canada trade talks, adding to regional diplomatic shifts. Hamas will not stop the war.
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