US envoy visits aid site in Gaza run by Israeli-backed group that has been heavily criticized

A whole bunch have been killed in search of meals

Witkoff posted on X that he had spent over 5 hours inside Gaza with the intention to achieve “a transparent understanding of the humanitarian state of affairs and assist craft a plan to ship meals and medical support to the folks of Gaza.”

Chapin Fay, a spokesperson for GHF, mentioned the go to mirrored Trump’s understanding of the stakes and that “feeding civilians, not Hamas, should be the precedence.” The group says it has delivered over 100 million meals because it started operations in Could.

All 4 of the group’s websites established in Could are in zones managed by the Israeli navy and have turn into flashpoints of desperation, with ravenous folks scrambling for scarce support.

Over 1,000 folks have been killed by Israeli hearth since Could whereas in search of support within the territory, most close to the GHF websites but in addition close to United Nations support convoys, the U.N. human rights workplace mentioned final month.

The Israeli navy says it has solely fired warning photographs at individuals who strategy its forces, and GHF says its armed contractors have solely used pepper spray or fired warning photographs to forestall lethal crowding.

Officers at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza mentioned Friday they obtained the our bodies of 13 individuals who have been killed whereas attempting to get support, together with close to the positioning that U.S. officers visited. GHF denied anybody was killed at their websites on Friday and mentioned most up-to-date shootings had occurred close to U.N. support convoys.

One other 12 folks have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, the hospital mentioned.

The Israeli navy mentioned its forces had fired warning photographs a whole bunch of meters (yards) away from the help website at folks it described as suspects and mentioned had ignored orders to distance themselves from its forces. It mentioned it was not conscious of any casualties however was nonetheless investigating.

Witkoff’s go to comes every week after U.S. officers walked away from ceasefire talks in Qatar, blaming Hamas and pledging to hunt different methods to rescue Israeli hostages and make Gaza secure. Trump wrote on social media that the quickest solution to finish the disaster could be for Hamas to give up and launch hostages.

Human Rights Watch slams Israeli-backed support system

Human Rights Watch mentioned in its report that “it will be close to not possible for Palestinians to comply with the directions issued by GHF, keep secure, and obtain support, significantly within the context of ongoing navy operations.” It cited docs, support seekers and at the least one GHF safety contractor.

Constructing on earlier accounts, it described how hundreds of Palestinians collect close to the websites at evening earlier than they open. As they head to the websites on foot, Israeli forces management their actions by opening hearth towards them. As soon as contained in the websites, they race for support in a frenzied fee-for-all, with weaker and extra weak folks coming away with nothing, the rights group mentioned.

Responding to the report, Israel’s navy accused Hamas of sabotaging the help distribution system, with out offering proof. It mentioned it was working to make the routes below its management safer for these touring to help websites. GHF didn’t instantly reply to questions in regards to the report.

The group has by no means allowed journalists to go to their websites and Israel’s navy has barred reporters from independently coming into Gaza all through the warfare.

At a Friday press convention in Gaza Metropolis, representatives of the territory’s influential tribes accused Israel of empowering factions that loot support websites and implored Witkoff to remain in Gaza to witness life firsthand. Israel denies aiding looters however says it backs factions which might be against Hamas.

“We would like the American envoy to return and stay amongst us in these tents the place there is no such thing as a water, no meals and no mild,” they mentioned. “Our youngsters are hungry within the streets.”

German international minister visits West Financial institution to focus on settler violence

Germany’s international minister visited Taybeh within the occupied West Financial institution, a Palestinian Christian village that has seen current assaults by Israeli settlers. Johann Wadephul mentioned Israel’s settlements are an impediment to peace and condemned settler violence. He additionally referred to as on Hamas to put down its arms in Gaza and launch the remaining hostages.

Germany has up to now declined to affix different main Western nations in saying plans to acknowledge a Palestinian state.

Palestinians in one other close by city laid to relaxation 45-year-old Khamis Ayad, who they are saying suffocated whereas extinguishing fires set by settlers throughout an assault the evening earlier than. Witnesses mentioned Israeli forces fired stay rounds and tear fuel towards residents after the settlers attacked.

Israel’s navy mentioned police have been investigating the incident. They mentioned safety forces discovered Hebrew graffiti and a burnt automobile on the scene however had not detained any suspects.

There was an increase in settler assaults, in addition to Palestinian assaults on Israelis and large-scale Israeli navy operations within the occupied West Financial institution since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault out of Gaza triggered the warfare there.

Hamas-led terrorists killed round 1,200 folks, largely civilians, that day and kidnapped 251 others. They nonetheless maintain 50 hostages, together with round 20 believed to be alive. Many of the others have been launched in ceasefires or different offers.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed greater than 60,000 Palestinians, in line with Gaza’s Well being Ministry. Its depend doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians. The ministry operates below the Hamas authorities. The U.N. and different worldwide organizations see it as essentially the most dependable supply of knowledge on casualties.

Metz reported from Jerusalem and Frankel from Tel Aviv, Israel.

Initially Revealed: August 1, 2025 at 5:32 AM MDT