Over the course of one harrowing day, 39 Palestinians tragically lost their lives while searching for assistance amidst the chaos. This unsettling news coincides with a visit from prominent officials from the US who traveled to Gaza to meet families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The mission aimed, as stated, to furnish President Donald Trump with an accurate picture of the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza. However, this visit faced backlash from a nurse voluntarily working in the area, who labeled it nothing more than a publicity stunt.
On Friday, special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited a center dedicated to providing aid, set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has support from both the US and Israel. Huckabee praised GHF’s efforts, calling their work an “incredible achievement” on a social media platform known as X.
Yet, Ellie Burgos, an American nurse volunteering at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, had a starkly different view. She condemned the visit, explaining, “This was clearly a PR maneuver, heavily monitored by the Israeli military. They didn’t see what’s truly happening here.” Her perspective shines a light on the relentless reality that essential food supplies remain scarce, people are being targeted even at aid distribution points, and violence persists unabated.
Encounters with Hostage Families
On the following day, Witkoff made his way to Tel Aviv where he met with individuals from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, amidst a protest taking place at a location lovingly referred to as “Hostage Square.” The backdrop for their protest was undated videos shared by Hamas featuring two hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, who appeared visibly weakened.
Reports from CNN indicated that both men were in poor condition, and at least one of the recordings included distressing images of starving Palestinian children.
“We wonder what members of the Knesset (parliament) are doing all day, simply discussing? Debating? Rom has been gone for almost two years and we haven’t received any updates from anyone,” relayed Braslavski’s family through a statement.
During his meeting with the forum representatives, Witkoff purportedly shared the strategy moving forward was “not about escalating the conflict but concluding it,” advocating for a comprehensive approach to ensure the release of all remaining 50 hostages simultaneously.
Of those hostages believed to be with Hamas, roughly 20 are thought to still be alive. Witkoff’s comments echoed sentiments from the Israel Defense Forces’ chief of staff who remarked the military operations will intensify if a resolution is absent.
“We expect to shortly learn whether we can pave the way for our hostages’ return,” stated Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. “If we cannot, the fighting will resume without pause.”
Grim Tidings on Famine
The Gaza Health Ministry released chilling statistics, revealing that 39 individuals lost their lives while attempting to receive aid on Saturday, with an additional seven having succumbed to malnutrition –, bringing the total famine-related fatalities to 169 since the conflict escalated in October 2023.
Numerous testimonies from eyewitnesses, alongside evidence from hospital professionals and international aid agencies, confirm repeated incidents of Gazans being shot while accessing aid; nevertheless, GHF insisted on social media that no such violence transpired “at or near our locations,” according to reports from the Associated Press.
In defense, the IDF declared they do not indiscriminately fire into crowds but may discharge warning shots towards civilians nearing their ranks. Still, just recently, the Israeli military admitted they are actively revising measures to improve safety on designated routes.
The UN’s Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, informed that the situation in Gaza has devolved into what they termed the “worst-case scenario of famine.” On a post made on X, they emphasized that as of July 30, a staggering 87% of the Strip remained under the control of Israeli forces.
Moreover, criticized were the recent supply airdrops — which UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini highlighted as remarkably inefficient. He argued that truck deliveries are far more effective and significantly less expensive.
The humanitarian crisis dramatically escalated following the surprise attack Hamas initiated on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the captive grabbing of around 250 individuals. Issuing over 60,000 Palestinian fatalities, Israel’s offensive placed Gaza into turmoil, culminating in widespread starvation.
