White House envoy Steve Witkoff arrived Thursday at the Gaza Foundation’s humanitarian aid distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, according to Israeli television reports. Footage showed his motorcade against a backdrop of Palestinians awaiting food parcels, with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accompanying him. The visit precedes Washington’s anticipated rollout of a new aid delivery plan for Gaza.
This development occurs amid significant diplomatic shifts:
**Slovenia** became the first European nation to ban all arms trade with Israel, citing Gaza hostilities. Its government stated it acted independently after the EU failed to take “concrete measures.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul signaled a potential major policy shift, noting Israel faces “increasing minority” status internationally. He stressed German recognition of Palestine must follow negotiations, demanding talks begin immediately. While Berlin won’t follow France’s immediate recognition path, Wadephul warned Germany would react to unilateral steps, highlighting impatience with Netanyahu’s government.
Momentum builds for September’s UN General Assembly vote on Palestinian statehood. Portugal recently joined France and the UK in committing to recognition, with Malta confirming similar plans. Pressure mounts on Belgium’s PM, Finland’s President expressed readiness to approve recognition if proposed, and Sweden urged the EU to freeze its trade agreement with Israel. Italy, under PM Meloni, remains resistant among major EU states.
**Canada** became the third G7 nation (after UK and France) to recognize Palestine, while Australia evaluates the move. Post-September recognition could exceed 150 UN member states. Palestinian statehood was central to a recent joint European-Arab declaration.
Despite this diplomatic pressure, Netanyahu retains key US support. Former President Trump criticized Macron’s and Starmer’s recognition moves, calling the latter “a reward for Hamas,” and threatened Canada over trade. Israeli ministers Katz and Levin advocated implementing sovereignty in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), aligning with far-right ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir’s annexation goals.
Hostage Talks Stalled, Strategy Shift:**
During Witkoff’s meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Trump posted on Truth Social demanding Hamas surrender and release hostages to end Gaza’s crisis – a sharper tone than previous calls for more Israeli aid. An Israeli political official revealed a developing US-Israel consensus: abandoning partial hostage deals for a comprehensive agreement requiring all hostages’ release, Hamas disarmament, and Gaza demilitarization. Talks are currently frozen as “Hamas has cut off contact.”
Hamas told Reuters it is ready to resolve the hostage issue within a ceasefire framework but vowed resistance until occupation ends. White House sources, citing an Atlantic report, suggest Trump now believes Netanyahu prolongs the Gaza war to retain power, hindering truce deals. Despite disagreements, the White House denies a “significant rupture” with Israel.