Trump envoy arrives in Israel amid rising death toll of Palestinians seeking aid
At least 91 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 wounded while attempting to get aid in the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
This includes 54 people killed in shootings in a deadly incident in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing on Wednesday, the ministry said.
The toll is expected to rise further as many of those killed or wounded were brought to isolated, smaller hospitals in northern Gaza and have not yet been counted.
The Israeli military said Palestinians surrounded aid trucks and the Israeli military fired warning shots into the crowd, but that it is not aware of any injuries stemming from Israeli fire.
A security official said the gunfire came from within the crowd and altercations between Palestinians attempting to access aid.
Mr Trump's special envoy Mr Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday afternoon.
He is expected to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and a possible ceasefire, according to an official.
This is the first meeting between Mr Witkoff and Mr Netanyahu since both Israel and the US summoned their negotiation teams home from Qatar one week ago.
Mr Witkoff said at the time Hamas's latest response 'shows a lack of desire' to reach a truce.
Hamas started the war with its attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, in which militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 others.
It still holds 50 hostages, including around 20 believed to be alive.
Most of the others have been released in ceasefires or other deals.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Its count does not distinguish between militants and civilians.
The ministry operates under the Hamas government.
The UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
In Jerusalem, about 50 people, including families of some of the approximately 50 hostages still being held in Gaza, demonstrated on Thursday in front of Mr Netanyahu's office calling for an end to the war.
Under heavy international pressure, Israel announced a series of measures over the weekend to facilitate the entry of more international aid to Gaza, but aid workers say much more is needed.
The Israeli defence body in charge of co-ordinating humanitarian aid in Gaza said 270 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Wednesday, and 32 pallets of aid were airdropped into the Strip.
That amount is far lower than the 500 to 600 trucks per day that aid organisations say are needed.
The international community has heaped criticism on Israel over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
International organisations said Gaza has been on the brink of famine for the past two years, but that recent developments, including a complete blockade on aid for two-and-a-half months, mean that the 'worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in Gaza'.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul was due in Israel later on Thursday on a two-day trip that will also take him to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Germany, traditionally a particularly staunch ally of Israel, has been increasingly critical recently of Israel's actions in Gaza.
It has insisted that Israel must do more to increase aid supplies and pushed for a ceasefire.
Berlin has not joined major allies France, Britain and Canada in saying it will recognise a Palestinian state in September.
But in a statement ahead of his departure on Thursday, Mr Wadephul underlined Germany's position that a two-state solution is 'the only way' to ensure a future in peace and security for people on both sides.
'For Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state stands rather at the end of the process. But such a process must begin now. Germany will not move from this aim. Germany also will be forced to react to unilateral steps,' Mr Wadephul said without elaborating.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Channel 4
19 minutes ago
- Channel 4
Netanyahu ‘unphased' by Palestine recognition
We spoke to Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat, who served as an advisor to two former Israeli Prime Ministers
Channel 4
19 minutes ago
- Channel 4
US special envoy Steve Witkoff visits Gaza aid ‘death traps'
Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has been taken to see one of the US and Israeli-backed GHF food distribution sites in the Gazan city of Rafah – saying he had spent more than five hours in the territory to 'help craft a plan' to deliver food and medical supplies. The GHF sites have become death traps for hundreds of people who've been killed trying to get near the food – with reports of another 13 people killed today. Before being briefed by Mr Witkoff President Trump – said he wanted to 'get people fed', and echoed Israeli claims that Hamas steal and sell the aid.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Hostage families: Releases will play ‘no part' in UK plan to recognise Palestine
Members of four British families met with Foreign Office officials on Thursday night seeking clarification on whether conditions would also be placed on Hamas, their lawyers said in a statement. 'However, it was clear from the meeting last night that the British Government's policy will not help the hostages, and could even hurt them,' they said. 'We do not say this lightly, but it was made obvious to us at the meeting that although the conditions for recognising a Palestinian state would be assessed 'in the round' in late-September, in deciding whether to go ahead with recognition, the release or otherwise of the hostages would play no part in those considerations. 'In other words, the 'vision for peace' which the UK is pursuing… may well involve our clients' family members continuing to rot in Hamas dungeons.' The statement also raised concerns that the UK offer would disincentivise Hamas from agreeing to a ceasefire deal. Sir Keir had said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. While he also called for Hamas to immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', he did not explicitly say these would factor into whether recognition would go ahead. He stressed on Friday that 'our demands on Hamas have not changed' and said that when the UK assesses how far the parties have met the steps set out ahead of the UN General Assembly 'of course that includes the terrorists of Hamas'. 'Everything we do in the Middle East is aimed at getting the hostages out, getting humanitarian aid to civilians, and accelerating the process towards peace,' he wrote in an op-ed for Jewish News. The families have a range of views on what the future political settlement should look like but their priority is to keep the hostages 'above political games,' their lawyers said. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the UK will not get into a 'to and fro' with Hamas over the recognition plans (Jordan Pettitt/PA) They are now urging the Prime Minister to 'change course before it is too late'. 'At a minimum, the British hostage families request that the Government confirm that without the hostages being released, there can be no peace, and that this will be an important part of its decision as to whether to proceed with recognition and its current plan.' Sir Keir said that he 'particularly' listens to hostages after criticism of his plans from Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who was held captive by Hamas. The families of Ms Damari and freed hostage Eli Sharabi were among those who met with the Foreign Office. Also present were relatives of Nadav Popplewell, who died while held captive, as well as those of Oded Lifshitz, who died, and Yocheved Lifschitz, who was released. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the UK will not get into a 'to and fro' with Hamas over the recognition plans and that 'we don't negotiate with terrorists, Hamas are terrorists'. US President Donald Trump disagrees with Sir Keir's plans, as well as those of France and Canada, which have also pledged their countries will recognise Palestine. 'He feels as though that's rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. A Government spokesperson said: 'We have announced our intention to recognise Palestine in September to protect the viability of the two-state solution. The first step in that process must be a ceasefire and there is no question about that. 'Our demands on Hamas have not changed. For there to be any chance of peace, the hostages must be released. Hamas must lay down its weapons and commit to having no future role in the governance of Gaza. 'We must also see significant progress on the ground including the supply of humanitarian support and for Israel to rule out annexations in the West Bank, and a commitment to a long-term sustainable peace. 'We will make an assessment ahead of UNGA on how far both Israel and Hamas have met the steps we set out. No one side will have a veto on recognition through their actions or inactions.'
