Summary
- Trump and Witkoff discussed increasing US Gaza aid.
- US to "take over" Gaza humanitarian effort
management.
- Israel supports the US stepping up humanitarian role.
- Aim to improve food and medical aid delivery.
- Meet held Monday at White House, Axios reports.
The management of the humanitarian effort in
Gaza will "take over" under the Trump administration.
According to the story, Witkoff and Trump met at
the White House on Monday to discuss the matter, and Israel endorsed the
expanded US engagement.
Witkoff recently visited Gaza, assessing aid operations and formulating strategies to deliver additional
food and medical supplies. The U.S. delegation intends to provide critical
briefings to the president to finalize this expanded role.
The Trump administration will "take
over" supervision of the humanitarian effort in Gaza since Israel is not
managing it well, according to a US official quoted by Axios.
This move comes amid increasing international pressure to address starvation and malnutrition in Gaza, with reports of thousands suffering and hundreds of deaths attributed to hunger and limited aid access.
How does Israel's support influence the US role in Gaza humanitarian efforts?
Israel controls most border crossings and
airspace around Gaza, which means it regulates the flow of humanitarian aid.
The U.S. often depends on Israel to grant access and ensure safe delivery of
aid. Without Israeli cooperation, U.S. aid efforts are logistically constrained.
Israel’s security concerns over Hamas lead to
strict inspections and limitations on the amount and type of aid entering Gaza.
This affects how much U.S. humanitarian assistance can reach civilians.
The U.S. has pushed for humanitarian corridors
and pauses in fighting, but these have at times been limited or inadequate due
to Israeli resistance.