GAZA CITY / WASHINGTON D.C. – A senior US envoy is visiting Gaza to inspect critical food distribution sites, a high-stakes diplomatic mission that comes just as funerals are being held for dozens of Palestinians reportedly killed while desperately seeking humanitarian aid. The visit underscores the escalating international pressure to address the catastrophic conditions gripping the besieged enclave.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in the region on Friday, with his agenda focused on assessing the mechanisms for aid delivery, the White House confirmed. The visit aims to find ways to improve the safe and effective distribution of life-saving supplies in a territory where civil order has all but collapsed and famine looms.

The diplomatic engagement is set against a grim backdrop of violence and desperation. On Thursday, a chaotic scene unfolded in the Zikim area of northern Gaza City. According to Palestinian health officials at Al-Shifa Hospital, dozens of people were killed and many more injured after Israeli forces opened fire on crowds that had gathered in the hope of receiving food from an aid convoy. The Israeli military has not yet issued a formal statement on the specific incident but has previously stated that its forces do not target civilians and that they respond to threats posed by armed groups who often operate in civilian areas.

Funerals for the victims were held on Friday, with images from Gaza showing mourners carrying bodies through rubble-strewn streets. The event has sparked international condemnation and renewed calls for a ceasefire and the establishment of secure humanitarian corridors.

A System on the Brink of Collapse

Aid organizations have for months warned that delivering assistance in Gaza has become nearly impossible. Convoys face immense risks, including active fighting, damaged roads, and the breakdown of security, which has led to widespread looting and attacks on aid trucks by desperate crowds and criminal gangs.

"What happened in Zikim is a horrific symptom of a much larger disease," a senior official with a UN-affiliated aid agency told reporters on condition of anonymity. "There is not enough aid getting in, and the aid that does get in cannot be distributed safely. People are starving, and they will risk their lives for a bag of flour. The system is broken."

Mr. Witkoff’s mission is expected to involve meetings with UN officials and other international partners on the ground to explore potential solutions. These may include securing specific routes, increasing the number of entry points for aid, and finding ways to protect convoys without escalating military confrontations.

Calls for Accountability and Action

The latest tragedy has amplified the urgency of ongoing diplomatic efforts. Palestinian officials have called the Zikim incident a "massacre" and are demanding an independent international investigation. Human rights organizations have echoed these calls, stressing the need for accountability for attacks on civilians seeking aid.

The United States, a key ally of Israel, has expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation. A State Department spokesperson said Washington is "urgently seeking more information" on the deadly incident and reiterated the importance of protecting civilian lives.

Envoy Witkoff's visit is a clear signal of the White House's heightened focus on the humanitarian dimension of the conflict. However, observers remain skeptical that a short visit can resolve the deeply entrenched challenges. Lasting solutions, they argue, will require a sustained political will from all parties, a dramatic increase in aid volume, and, ultimately, a political settlement to end the conflict that has devastated Gaza and its people. As the international community watches, the immediate focus remains on preventing another deadly scramble for food.