U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff rejected outrageous media claims of ‘famine’ in Gaza after visiting the enclave. Ambassador Witkoff, who was visiting Israel over the weekend, toured Gaza on Friday and inspected an aid distribution site operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
“There is hardship and shortage, but no starvation,” Ambassador Witkoff confirmed on Friday during a meeting with the families of the hostages still being held in Hamas captivity.
It is also worth noting that the hardships and shortages in Gaza are largely created by the looting and hoarding of incoming humanitarian aid by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups.
The GHF, which seeks to provide food and aid directly to Gaza residents and thereby bypassing Hamas, has provided over 100 million meals since it began operations in late May. GHF staffers and sites have been repeatedly threatened and attacked by Hamas.
The real signs of starvation and scarcity can be seen in the emaciated faces and frail bodies of Israeli hostages languishing in Hamas captivity for more than 660 days.
The statement comes as Hamas released disturbing videos of two Israeli hostages over the weekend, showing starving, tortured, and disorientated men pleading for their lives. In one clip, Hamas terrorists can be seen forcing 24-year-old hostage Evyatar David to dig his own grave inside a dark terror tunnel.
The Jerusalem Post reported Witkoff’s remarks during the meeting with the hostage families:
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff stated that the US was planning to end the war and called for an all-or-nothing approach to end the Israel-Hamas War in a meeting with hostage families on Saturday.According to a press release, Witkoff said that the US had a plan to “end the war and bring everyone home,” and that this was US President Donald Trump’s top priority.“Our first priority is to bring all the hostages home. President Trump believes everyone should come out, and those who are alive must be kept alive. This is a sacred mission to him.”Witkoff told the families that he came to personally assess the situation in Gaza and to ensure that humanitarian aid is being provided. He said that while there is hardship and food shortages, there is no starvation in Gaza.He said, according to Israeli media, that once the claim of starvation is refuted, negotiations can continue to end the war and return all the hostages.
Since October 7, 2023, Hamas has been funding its terrorist war against Israel with the money made by skimming off incoming aid. According to a senior official of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), “Hamas made over one billion dollars last year just from manipulating the system of aid managed by the United Nations and others.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which has been securing and facilitating the delivery of aid to Gaza since the war began nearly 21 months ago, also dismissed false media allegations.
The IDF said in a statement on Sunday that it “will continue to work in order to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, along with the international community, while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza.”
Hamas has killed several Israeli soldiers involved in securing logistics for humanitarian aid supplies.
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