U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will join U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to inspect the food distribution centers operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a joint venture between the United States and Israel.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced at a Thursday press conference that the diplomats will enter the Gaza Strip on Friday and report back to President Donald Trump on how to improve the woefully inadequate aid efforts.
“Tomorrow, Special Envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee will be traveling into Gaza to inspect the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food and meet with local Gazans to hear firsthand about this dire situation on the ground,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt continued, “The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region, and we will provide more details for all of you once that plan is approved and agreed on by the President of the United States.”
Huckabee, an ardent proponent of Israel who has clashed with the national government in recent weeks, is a late addition to the trip, which was initially believed to be just for Witkoff.
Witkoff landed in Israel on Thursday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the war in Gaza and the hostages still being held by Hamas. Approximately 50 people are still being held hostage, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Photos of the meeting between Witkoff and Netanyahu were published, but neither side offered details on the discussion.
Pressure is mounting to bring peace talks over the finish line as France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other nations threaten to recognize a sovereign Palestinian state due to outrage over the insufficient humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
Despite widely disseminated photos and reports of Gazans storming GHF facilities to access food, which has led to deadly shootings by the Israel Defense Forces, Netanyahu said there is “no starvation” in the Gaza Strip.
Trump rebuked that assessment this week while meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, telling reporters that the “[Palestinian] children look very hungry.”
Israel recently rolled back its ban on humanitarian aid drops by foreign countries. The food shipped and parachuted in by planes has provided some relief for the millions of Palestinians underserved by GHF operations, but it is far less efficient than aid delivered by truck.
However, trucks have also suffered setbacks, including those operated by the United Nations.
The U.N. Office for Project Services reported that since May 15, a staggering 1,753 trucks operated by the U.N. were “intercepted,” “either peacefully by hungry people or forcefully armed actors, during transit in Gaza.”
In contrast, 260 U.N. trucks “arrived” at their “intended destination in Gaza” in that time frame.
Trump has said Hamas is the primary obstacle to establishing peace in Gaza and warned that Western nations recognizing Palestinian sovereignty will only “reward” the terrorist group.
Still, the president has expressed sincere concern for the civilians suffering due to the conflict, a point emphasized by the White House.
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“President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart,” Leavitt said at the Thursday press conference. “And that’s why he sent special envoy Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis.”
This will be Witkoff’s second trip to Gaza since joining the administration as Trump’s personal envoy. In January, Witkoff spent time in the IDF-occupied Netzarim Corridor.