Witkoff: Israel ‘indicated’ that it will start allowing aid into Gaza

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Palestinians react after food runs out at a charity kitchen providing hot meals in Jabaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip on May 17, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP)
Palestinians react after food runs out at a charity kitchen providing hot meals in Jabaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip on May 17, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP)

US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff says Israel has “indicated” that it will begin allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza after blocking its entry for over two and a half months.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which was established in close coordination with Israel to manage aid distribution in a manner that prevents its diversion by Hamas, said last week that it would plan to begin operating in Gaza by the end of the month, but Israel has still yet to confirm this.

Witkoff tells ABC’s “This Week” that “everyone is concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza” and insists that “there is no daylight” between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue.

The Trump envoy argues that getting aid into Gaza is “logistically complicated.”

“The issue now is how do we logistically get all of those trucks into Gaza? How do we set up the aid stations?” Witkoff says. There are many initiatives that we’re working on to address this.”

“There are going to be mobile kitchens that are going to be sent in. We have trucks with flour waiting at the border,” he continues.

“We do not want to see a humanitarian crisis, and we will not allow it to occur on President Trump’s watch,” Witkoff asserts.

Humanitarian organizations have said for weeks that the crisis is already underway.

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