() Special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will make a rare trip to the front line in Gaza on Friday as humanitarian conditions worsen.
Witkoff and Huckabee are expected to inspect aid distribution sites and speak directly with people affected after President Donald Trump recently pledged a new plan to deliver aid to the region.
Huckabee appeared on “On Balance” on Thursday night and discussed the mission.
“We’re going to go firsthand. The president wants a report as soon as we get back,” he said. “I just appreciate a president with the clarity to say Hamas isn’t going to continue to live there, rule there. They’ve got to be stopped, and the hostages have to be let go.”
According to the U.N. World Food Program, 1 in 3 people in Gaza are now going days without food, and more than 500,000 are facing famine-like conditions.
Israeli PM and Steve Witkoff discuss Gaza aid
The visit follows a high-level meeting Thursday between Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the worsening food shortage was a key topic.
Earlier this week, the Israeli military announced daily pauses in fighting in parts of Gaza to allow more aid into the region.
Following the visit to Gaza, Witkoff and Huckabee have said they will brief Trump, who is expected to finalize an aid plan that may include establishing food distribution centers.
Trump has maintained pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages, tying any ceasefire progress to those efforts.
Growing push to recognize Palestinian state
As part of the pushback against Israel’s handling of the war, several countries have announced plans to recognize Palestine as an official state.
So far, France and Canada have voiced their support, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated the United Kingdom could join them if the conflict does not end soon.
Trump has slammed Canada’s position, saying, “That will make it very hard for us to make a trade deal with them.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pushed back on the idea, arguing it would incentivize Hamas against working toward a ceasefire.
