DEYAL AL BARA, Gaza Strip (AP) — President Donald Trump’s special envoy arrived in Israel Thursday to discuss Gaza’s collapsed humanitarian situation.
At least 91 Palestinians have been killed and more than 600 have been injured while trying to receive assistance in the last 24 hours, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. This killed 54 people on Wednesday while waiting for food in northern Gaza near Jikim intersection, the ministry said. Many of the killed and injured have been taken to small isolated hospitals in northern Gaza and are expected to rise further as they have not yet been counted.
Israeli forces said Palestinians fired warning shots by aid trucks and Israeli forces at the crowd, but were unaware of injuries stemming from the Israeli fire. Speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations, security officers said the shooting came from within the crowd and came with an argument between Palestinians trying to access aid.
Diplomatic push
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Israel Thursday afternoon after the US imposed new sanctions on staff from Western-backed Palestinian authorities. He is expected to talk with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the possibility of a ceasefire, according to officials who spoke about the conditions of anonymity discussing the delicate matter.
This is the first meeting between Witkov and Netanyahu since both Israel and the US We invited the negotiation team home. From Qatar a week ago. Witkov said at the time that Hamas “indicating a lack of desire” to reach the armistice.
Hamas launched the war on October 7, 2023 with an attack on southern Israel, with extremists killing around 1,200 people and acquiring 251 people. They still hold 50 hostages. Most others have been released in ceasefires and other deals.
Israeli retaliatory attacks have killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. That count does not distinguish between extremists and civilians. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The UN and other international organizations consider it the most reliable source of data on victims.
In Jerusalem, thousands of people, including some families of around 50 hostages still in custody in Gaza, were demonstrated on Wednesday in front of Netanyahu’s offices seeking an end to the war.
Trickles to Gaza
Israel announced a series of measures over the weekend to promote the entry of more international aid into Gaza under international pressure, but aid workers say they need more.
Israeli defense agency responsible for coordinating humanitarian assistance in Gaza said 270 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Wednesday, with 32 aid being Airdropped onto the strip. That amount is much lower than the 500-600 tracks per day that the organization says it needs.
The international community has fueled criticism of Israel over Gaza’s worsening humanitarian situation. International organizations said Gaza was on The brink of hunger for the past two years, However, recent developments, including a complete lockdown of aid for two and a half months, mean that “the worst-case scenario of hunger is currently being deployed in Gaza.”
Gaza’s criticism of Israel comes from stubborn allies
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadefal was born in Israel on a two-day trip, and took him to the Israeli people’s West Bank.
Germany has traditionally been a particularly solid ally of Israel and has recently become increasingly important to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Israel has called for a ceasefire, claiming that it must do more to increase its aid supply.
Berlin is not part of a major alliance France, UKand CanadaHe said he would recognize the Palestinian state in September. However, in a statement ahead of its departure on Thursday, Wadehull highlighted Germany’s position that the two states’ solutions are the “only way” to ensure a future of peace and security for both people.
“For Germany, the perception of the Palestinian state is rather at the end of the process. However, such a process must begin now. Germany will not move from this purpose. Germany will also be forced to respond to unilateral measures.”
US cancels visas for Palestinian officials
Palestinian officials and the Palestinian Liberation Agency associated with Palestinian authorities are no longer able to travel to the United States after their visas were revoked Thursday, resulting in further deterioration in relations with the United States.
The State Department said the organization violated a long-standing agreement not to undermine the peace process or globalize the dispute through international courts. They accuse the attackers of inciting violence and supporting the attackers and their families.
He didn’t specify which officials would be approved. Similar actions When filmed during President Donald Trump’s first term, the group led the Washington-based office to the shutter in 2018.
Some of the recent perceptions of the Palestinian state are based on PA reforms. This has fallen into corruption and is not widely popular at home. The PA also clashed violently with Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza.
The PLO, an internationally recognized representative of Palestinians, oversees Western-backed Palestinian authorities exerting limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
__ Sammets contributed a report from Jerusalem.
