US envoys praise Gaza aid efforts as UN says 1,300 have died trying to get food

Two top US officials visited aid distribution sites in Gaza yesterday, hailing the work of a controversial agency delivering food, after the UN said hundreds of Palestinians have died while seeking help.

- By ALEX CROFT

Ambassador Mike Huckabee joined Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff for a visit to an aid site in Rafah run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which took control of aid distribution in May.

The pair are the first high-profile US officials to visit the enclave, which has been in the grip of a hunger crisis in recent weeks, since the war began. Mr Witkoff said the visit was part of a bid to put together a new US-backed aid plan for the war-shattered territory.

Mr Witkoff said he aimed to give Mr Trump “a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza”.

“We received briefings from @IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) and spoke to folks on the ground,” Mr Huckabee said on X following the visit. “GHF delivers more than one million meals a day, an incredible feat!” he added, echoing claims by the agency.

But experts say that controversial distribution methods have contributed to hundreds of Palestinian deaths since the GHF took control of aid in May. Palestinians carry bags of flour that they obtained from aid trucks which entered Gaza through the Zikim crossing point (AFP/Getty)

At least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid, including 859 near GHF sites, mostly by the Israeli military, the UN’s humanitarian agency said on Thursday. Gaza’s health ministry said 91 had died in the past day alone.