Witkoff plans to visit the Mideast in push for Gaza ceasefire, State Department spokesperson says
What they are witnessing is that we, we’ve almost entered *** new phase of, of this war. Um, that’s at least what it feels like. We’re really at the worst point that we’ve ever been at, um, in, in this humanitarian crisis of over 20 months, and that is not just because of the incessant bombardments and, and the displacements, uh, currently less than. Then 18% of the territory of the Gaza Strip is not under displacement order or not designated as *** military zone, but It’s really um because of, of the combination of hunger and thirst, um, and, and these images that we see coming out of Gaza, um, people having to risk their lives to, to get their hands on, on *** little bit of, of food. Um, everyone that my colleagues come across is, is hungry, um, is thirsty. Uh, the, the water production facilities are operating roughly at, at 150. percent capacity because since electricity was cut off from the Gaza Strip at the beginning of this war, these facilities are completely reliant on fuel to desalinate water, to pump water up, and then also to to distribute it. And fuel is as scarce as, as anything else in in the Gaza Strip today. So we’re looking at this situation of engineering. Years, man-made scarcity that has driven population really into, into panic and into despair. My, my colleague James, um, just, just two weeks ago, um, interviewed children who had gotten injured very badly actually, at, at food distribution sites. But some of these children have, have sadly passed away in, in the meantime because healthcare is also So not really available anymore. Hospitals are just overwhelmed by the constant inflow of of wounded, and there’s *** shortage of of everything medicines, and medical equipment, medical supplies. Um, so that’s why we’re humanitarians, any humanitarian you’ll talk to today will, will tell you um that the situation has, has reached *** new low. We’re really hitting *** rock bottom and key is here that it doesn’t have to be this way. We have supplies ready to, to, to bring in um specialized nutrition supplies, hygiene supplies, nappies for babies, sanitary pads, uh, for, for women and girls, um, but we’re, we’re not authorized to bring all of those supplies in, and we’re also only authorized to bring in limited quantities, very select, uh, supplies. So, so this is what is really exacerbating the crisis.
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President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, planned to head to the Middle East as the U.S. tries once again to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the State Department’s spokesperson said Tuesday.Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that Witkoff was going to the region with a “strong hope” that the U.S. can deliver a ceasefire deal as well as a new humanitarian corridor for aid distribution.”I would suggest that we might have some good news, but, again, as we know, this could be a constantly changing dynamic,” said Bruce, who didn’t have other details about where Witkoff would be going or what he had planned.Three U.S. officials said Witkoff is traveling to Europe this week to discuss a range of issues, including Gaza and the push for a ceasefire, but they had no details about Middle East stops and did not share where specifically Witkoff would travel to and when.The officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.The State Department press office didn’t respond to messages seeking more details on Witkoff’s travel, and it wasn’t immediately clear what his schedule would be this week.A breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire deal has eluded the Trump administration for months as conditions worsen in Gaza. The territory had its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food Sunday.The Israeli army has said it fired warning shots, but says the reported death toll was greatly inflated. The United Nations’ food agency accused Israeli forces of firing on the crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid.Bruce said the incident that took place while civilians were trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel is “absolutely horrible” and reinforced why the U.S. is pushing for a new humanitarian corridor to be created as part of any truce.The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs. Officials have said a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place.The U.S. plan calls for a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release some hostages while Israel would free Palestinian prisoners and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. During the 60 days, the sides are also to begin negotiations on a permanent end to the war.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas yields power and is disarmed, while Hamas says it will not release all of the hostages until the war is over. It is seeking assurances that Netanyahu will not resume the war after the 60 days, as he did in March after an early ceasefire expired.Hamas is holding 50 hostages — 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.___Amiri reported from New York.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, planned to head to the Middle East as the U.S. tries once again to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the State Department’s spokesperson said Tuesday.
Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that Witkoff was going to the region with a “strong hope” that the U.S. can deliver a ceasefire deal as well as a new humanitarian corridor for aid distribution.
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“I would suggest that we might have some good news, but, again, as we know, this could be a constantly changing dynamic,” said Bruce, who didn’t have other details about where Witkoff would be going or what he had planned.
Three U.S. officials said Witkoff is traveling to Europe this week to discuss a range of issues, including Gaza and the push for a ceasefire, but they had no details about Middle East stops and did not share where specifically Witkoff would travel to and when.
The officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The State Department press office didn’t respond to messages seeking more details on Witkoff’s travel, and it wasn’t immediately clear what his schedule would be this week.
A breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire deal has eluded the Trump administration for months as conditions worsen in Gaza. The territory had its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food Sunday.
The Israeli army has said it fired warning shots, but says the reported death toll was greatly inflated. The United Nations’ food agency accused Israeli forces of firing on the crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid.
Bruce said the incident that took place while civilians were trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel is “absolutely horrible” and reinforced why the U.S. is pushing for a new humanitarian corridor to be created as part of any truce.
The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs. Officials have said a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place.
The U.S. plan calls for a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release some hostages while Israel would free Palestinian prisoners and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. During the 60 days, the sides are also to begin negotiations on a permanent end to the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas yields power and is disarmed, while Hamas says it will not release all of the hostages until the war is over. It is seeking assurances that Netanyahu will not resume the war after the 60 days, as he did in March after an early ceasefire expired.
Hamas is holding 50 hostages — 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
___
Amiri reported from New York.
