Humanitarian Organizations: “Impact of New U.S. ‘Food Supply’ Plan”
(Seoul = Yonhap News) By Seo Hye-rim – As U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy plans to visit the Gaza Strip directly on August 1 (local time), there is anticipation that this visit could significantly alleviate the local food crisis.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, currently visiting Israel, is expected to inspect a food distribution site in the Gaza Strip along with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and listen to the stories of local residents, as stated by White House spokesperson Carolyn Rabbit during a briefing on the 31st.
Rabbit added that following the visit to the Gaza Strip, they will discuss the final plan for the distribution of food and relief supplies to the region with President Trump.
This visit by Special Envoy Witkoff follows President Trump’s commitment, recognizing the famine situation in the Gaza Strip, to establish a food center there.
President Trump had previously stated, during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the 28th, that “there is real hunger in the Gaza Strip” and that he plans to create “borderless food centers where people can freely come.”
The following day, he also emphasized the need to “bring food to the starving children.”
The critical issue, however, is whether this American interest can serve as a turning point to expand the scale of food supplied to the Gaza Strip and improve the distribution method.
For a long time, relief organizations aiding the Gaza Strip have pointed out that excessive control by Israel has hindered sufficient food supply to the area.
There is continuous criticism that the Israeli military indiscriminately fires at residents who come to receive aid.
Nevertheless, President Trump reiterated his intention on the 30th to delegate the overall charge of food distribution in the Gaza Strip to Israel.
Humanitarian organizations have speculated that the situations witnessed by Special Envoy Witkoff in the Gaza Strip will likely influence the new U.S. strategy for food supply, as reported by the American daily, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Spokesperson Rabbit relayed that on the 31st, Witkoff had very productive discussions in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others concerning the provision of food and relief supplies to the Gaza Strip.
On the same day, President Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that “the quickest way to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is for Hamas to surrender and release the (Israeli) hostages.”
hrseo@yna.co.kr