Trump plans to "take over" Gaza aid effort, U.S. officials say
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Palestinians run toward humanitarian aid as it is airdropped in Gaza City on March 1. Photo: AFP via Getty
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump discussed plans for the U.S. to significantly increase its role in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza in a meeting Monday evening at the White House, according to two U.S. officials and an Israeli official with knowledge of the issue.
Why it matters: Negotiations for a ceasefire are stuck, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving towards significantly expanding the war. U.S. officials are concerned about more bloodshed but have yet to firmly object. The new food aid plan Trump promised last week is also not yet finalized.
Driving the news: Witkoff flew in from Miami to meet Trump for dinner on Monday, the sources say, fresh off a visit last week to Israel and Gaza.
- A U.S. official said it was decided that the Trump administration will "take over" management of the humanitarian effort in Gaza because Israel isn't handling it adequately.
- The official didn't say what the U.S. role would actually entail, but said Gulf countries like Qatar will contribute funds, while Jordan and Egypt will also likely be involved.
- The White House didn't respond to requests for comment.
Friction point: Trump is "not thrilled" about the idea of the U.S. taking charge, "but it kind of has to happen," the official said. "There doesn't seem to be another way."
- "The starvation problem in Gaza is getting worse. Donald Trump does not like that. He does not want babies to starve. He wants mothers to be able to nurse their children. He's becoming fixated on that," the official continued.
- A second U.S. official said the administration will be careful not to get dragged too deep into the Gaza crisis.
- "The president doesn't want to see the U.S. being the only country throwing money at this problem. It's a global problem. And he's been tasking Witkoff and others to make sure everyone is stepping up, our European friends and our Arab friends," the official said.
The other side: Israel supports the increased U.S. role, according to both U.S. officials and an Israeli official.
- The Israeli official confirmed the U.S. planned to take the lead on the humanitarian issue in order to increase the level of aid coming into Gaza.
- "They are going to spend a lot of money in order to help us significantly improving the humanitarian situation so that it will be less of an issue," the Israeli official said.
Behind the scenes: Some in the administration are growing worried over Netanyahu's proposed expansion of the war.
- Netanyahu raised that possibility during Witkoff's visit last week and has discussed it with the White House this week too, an Israeli official told Axios.
- Israeli officials have claimed they're totally aligned with Washington.
- Asked Tuesday about a possible Israeli full occupation of Gaza, Trump said: "I really can't say. It is going to be pretty much up to Israel."
Zoom in: The proposed expansion is controversial not just because it entails occupying the entire Gaza Strip, including areas like Gaza City, but also because it would mean moving into zones where Israel believes hostages are being held.
- The Israel Defense Forces have been reluctant to attack those areas for fear of accidentally killing hostages.
- IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior security officials have warned Netanyahu against such an operation.
- According to Israeli officials, Zamir told Netanyahu such a move would endanger the hostages and could lead to Israeli military rule in Gaza with full responsibility over two million Palestinians.
What to watch: Nevertheless, the Israeli security cabinet is expected to hold a meeting on Thursday and approve the plan for the full occupation of Gaza.
- An Israeli official claimed Netanyahu is working to "free the hostages through military defeat of Hamas" because he believes "Hamas is not interested in a deal."
- At the same time, humanitarian aid will be brought into areas outside the combat zones "and as much as possible to areas outside Hamas' control," the official said.
The bottom line: Netanyahu's plan to escalate the war could stand in the way of Trump's hopes of dramatically increasing aid and alleviating the humanitarian crisis.
