A senior U.S. official overseeing Middle East policy recently visited a disputed aid distribution center in Gaza, drawing criticism from locals who dismissed the trip as a publicity move rather than a genuine effort to address the worsening humanitarian disaster.
The envoy, accompanied by the U.S. ambassador to Israel and Israeli military officials, spent several hours assessing conditions at a facility run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization that has faced allegations of lethal violence against civilians seeking aid. According to the envoy, the purpose of the visit was to gather firsthand information to shape future aid efforts.
However, Palestinian residents and humanitarian groups rejected the gesture, accusing the U.S. of complicity in the crisis. “This is just another staged event,” said one Gaza resident. “They won’t see the real suffering—only what Israel wants them to see.”
The GHF, which took over aid distribution from the UN earlier this year, claims to provide over a million meals daily, though UN agencies argue this falls far short of actual needs. Reports from international observers describe desperate crowds facing gunfire near aid points, with the UN documenting hundreds of fatalities in recent months.
A former U.S. military contractor who worked at GHF sites alleged witnessing indiscriminate shootings by Israeli forces and American personnel—claims the GHF denies, labeling him a discredited ex-employee. Human rights organizations have called for an immediate halt to the use of lethal force against civilians and urged a reevaluation of the militarized aid system.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations remain stalled, with Hamas demanding increased aid access before returning to talks. The U.S. and Israel withdrew from discussions last week, blaming Hamas for inflexibility.
As the death toll climbs and famine looms, international pressure mounts for decisive action to end the crisis. Yet for many in Gaza, promises of aid and diplomacy ring hollow amid ongoing violence and deprivation.
