President Trump vows to bypass Hamas theft of aid in Gaza, dispatching his special envoy and U.S. ambassador to oversee food delivery and secure a new humanitarian plan.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a bold new push to deliver humanitarian aid directly to Gaza — and ensure it actually reaches the people who need it, not the hands of Hamas.
In a prime-time NBC News interview on Thursday night, Trump confirmed that his special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will make a rare, high-stakes trip into the Gaza Strip on Friday. Their mission: see the crisis first-hand, meet local residents, and design a secure new method for delivering food without Hamas interception.
“We Want People Fed — Not Hamas”
“We want to make sure people get fed,” Trump said, stressing that he is eager to hear Witkoff and Huckabee’s report. When asked if he trusts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to administer U.S. aid, Trump replied, “He’s certainly a competent person,” but made clear that he remains deeply concerned about Hamas theft.
“Good management will stop that. Hopefully, the Israelis will provide that,” the President told NBC.
White House: Trump Is Personally Driving Aid Push
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that Trump’s decision is driven by his personal humanitarian concern.
“President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart, and that’s why he sent Special Envoy Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis,” Leavitt said.
She added that Witkoff and Huckabee had already met with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to discuss a “secure and effective” aid delivery system. On Friday, the pair will tour Gaza distribution sites, meet locals, and return to brief Trump directly.
$60 Million in Aid — and No Results
Trump also delivered a sharp rebuke over the misuse of American aid.
“It’s terrible what’s occurring there. People are very hungry,” Trump said. “The United States gave $60 million for food, and it’s a shame because I don’t see the results of it. We gave it to people who, in theory, were watching over it closely. We wanted Israel to watch over it. But part of the problem is Hamas is taking the money and they’re taking the food.”
He added: “Nobody said thank you. But I didn’t need a thank you. I just wanted people to get fed. We’re helping out financially with that situation.”
The Stakes
Trump’s comments highlight a core challenge in Gaza relief efforts: preventing Hamas from hijacking humanitarian aid while ensuring desperate civilians receive food and supplies. By sending Huckabee and Witkoff into Gaza, Trump is signaling a shift toward hands-on U.S. oversight and a readiness to break through the bottlenecks that have plagued international aid efforts for months.
