US envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Gaza aid site amid growing famine crisis

Washinton DC: US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will visit a humanitarian aid distribution site in Gaza on Friday, August 2, amid rising international alarm over the deepening starvation crisis in the enclave.

The site, backed by a US-funded group, has reportedly witnessed fatal shootings of Palestinians by Israeli forces as crowds gather in desperation for food.

Witkoff’s visit comes as the US administration faces mounting criticism for its handling of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged “real starvation” in the territory, in a rare break from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump reportedly believes Netanyahu is intentionally prolonging the conflict to serve his political interests, according to two officials who spoke to The Atlantic.

Despite this shift in tone, sources say no substantial US policy change is expected. Trump has now shifted blame onto Hamas, asserting it must take responsibility for ending the war. Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, with aid workers and medical professionals warning of extreme hunger, especially among children.

Acoording to reports Dr. Tom Adamkiewicz, a US doctor currently in Gaza told Sky News that children are fainting from hunger, describing claims that there is no famine as “an absolute lie”. The visit by Witkoff is being viewed as a symbolic gesture amid growing pressure on the White House to do more to alleviate suffering. Several countries have recently announced plans to formally recognise a Palestinian state, intensifying global scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the wider conflict.