Trump to approve new Gaza aid plan after Witkoff visits Friday: White House
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Steve Witkoff (left) with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today in Jerusalem. Photo: Israeli Prime Minister's Office
President Trump is expected to approve a new Gaza humanitarian aid plan on Friday after his envoy Steve Witkoff visits the enclave and briefs him about the situation, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing on Thursday.
Why it matters: Trump has made clear in recent days that he thinks there is starvation in Gaza and has committed to increasing U.S. aid. At the same time, he said he expects other Western countries and Israel to do their share.
- Reports of starving children in Gaza have raised alarm — both for Trump and the global community.
- But amid calls for an immediate ceasefire, Trump has also said Israel might need to escalate the war to force Hamas to sign a hostage deal.
Driving the news: Witkoff discussed Gaza for several hours with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting on Thursday in Jerusalem.
- An Israeli official told reporters that Israel and the U.S. will work to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza while the Israeli military continues fighting in the enclave.
- Leavitt said Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will visit Gaza on Friday to see the situation and meet Palestinians directly.
- Israeli officials said the pair are expected to visit Gaza alongside Israeli officials and military officers.
- After the visit, Witkoff and Huckabee will brief Trump, who will then finalize a new aid plan for Gaza, Leavitt said.
Zoom in: Israel has limited the entry of aid into Gaza except through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the new aid mechanism that was endorsed by the U.S. and Israel.
- The Trump administration approved a $30 million donation to GHF, but it's unclear whether the new aid plan will involve more support for GHF or another mechanism.
- Aid groups and the UN have criticized Israel's reliance on GHF because its distribution centers are limited to south and central Gaza and require Palestinians to make dangerous journeys to receive food.
State of play: Witkoff discussed with Netanyahu the stalemate in the negotiations over the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, an Israeli official said in a briefing with reporters.
- The official said Netanyahu and Witkoff discussed the possibility of moving from an incremental and partial Gaza deal to a comprehensive deal.
- "An understanding is being established between Israel and the U.S. that, in light of Hamas' rejectionist position, there is a need to shift from a framework for the release of some of the hostages to a framework for the release of all the hostages, the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip," the Israeli official said.
