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Meanwhile, violence continues to escalate. At least 45 Palestinians, including people seeking aid, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military said 7 of its soldiers had died Tuesday in a bombing claimed by Hamas.
Trump connected recent developments in Gaza to the US air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, indicating they had also helped to advance progress. "I think we're going to have some very good news," he said in Brussels, about Witkoff's assessment.
Crisis Over Aid Intensifies as Deaths Near Centers Rise
Since Israel relaunched its military action in Gaza on 18 March following a two-month respite in hostilities, humanitarian conditions have continued to decline. The assault was to force Hamas to free the other 50 Israeli prisoners, at least 20 of whom it is believed are still alive. Israel also introduced a full blockade of aid deliveries in early March, lifting them only after 11 weeks in response to an international outcry and dire warnings of mass starvation.
A new system for the distribution of aid, supported by Israel and the US, called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was created to bypass the UN and reduce the amount of aid going through Hamas. Working with US private security contractors, the GHF says it has provided more than 44 million meals since 26 May alone, including 2.4 million on Wednesday.
However, the UN and different aid groups have declined to work with the GHF, saying they are worried about humanitarian principles and risks. At least 549 Palestinians have been killed and 4,000 injured in the fighting that broke out since the GHF started operations, the health ministry said. Six people were reported killed on Wednesday near a GHF site in central Gaza and three in one near Rafah. Golan: The Israeli side did not know about the victims, and the GHF found the reports to be unfounded.
In Gaza City, funerals were held for 33 people who died as they queued for food. "These aid points are not aid points, these are death points," one resident said. UNICEF's James Elder said the situation was driving civilians to "an impossible choice" as distribution sites are located inside conflict areas.
Sustained Fighting Drives Up Civilian Death Toll and Political Pressure
Residential areas were also bombed in air strikes on Wednesday. In Nuseirat refugee camp, six people, including a child, were killed, Gaza health officials said. Five others died in Deir al-Balah. More than 860 Palestinians are said to have been killed in Gaza itself since Israel's campaign against Iran and Gaza opened.
There's no consensus in public opinion in Gaza. So, not want to be callous, but not very sensitive to the cries of "poor Iran." Some perceive this as a chance to bully Hamas into making concessions, and others assume: aha, now Israel will escalate its military campaign in Gaza. 'It got worse' A Khan Younis resident said the situation had got worse, with the escalation of the bombings and growing humanitarian crises.
In Israel, the army announced the death of seven soldiers in a blast in Khan Younis: the deadliest incident since the breakdown of the truce. A blast took out an armoured vehicle, setting it on fire and preventing rescuers from reaching the wounded.
"We are in the midst of a difficult day for the people of Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. The deaths have also rekindled domestic pressure, with ultra-Orthodox MP Moshe Gafni asking what the war is for and calling for a ceasefire to free the hostages.
The violence, which broke out on 7 October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 and taking 251 hostages, has claimed at least 56,157 lives in Gaza, the health ministry says.
