DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, as the death toll of Palestinians waiting for food and other aid continued to climb.

With food scarce and parcels being airdropped, President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee toured one of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's distribution sites in Rafah,

France took part in airdrops that delivered much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza in the early days of Israel's response to Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023.

Israel must open full humanitarian access to address the risk of famine," he added. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot earlier in the day had told broadcaster franceinfo that France was sending four flights carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid each to Gaza from Jordan.

France – alongside other European nations – is pursuing airdrops of humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip, with the help of Middle East partners. However, it insists that fully opening land crossings is the only efficient way to help the more than two million Palestinians who aid agencies say are facing starvation.