President Donald Trump said this week the U.S. would send more aid to Gaza, especially food, as the hunger crisis worsens.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit the Gaza Strip on Friday to inspect aid distribution centres, the White House has said. Witkoff and the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, will seek to "secure a plan to deliver more food and meet with local Gazans to hear firsthand about this dire situation on the ground,

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Israel to assess the state of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip as reports of widespread starvation have invigorated demands for an immediate ceasefire.

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two resolutions that would have blocked arms sales to Israel in response to civilian casualties in Gaza were blocked in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, although they garnered more support than similar measures earlier this year.

The U.S. Senate has approved weapons sales to Israel, despite the fact that a majority of Senate Democrats voted against the measure.

A U.N. meeting, amid increasing anger at Israel over widespread deprivation in Gaza, called on nations to recognize statehood for Palestine.

The announcement came after France said last week it would recognize a Palestinian state and a day after Britain said it would recognize the state at September's U.N. General Assembly meeting if the fighting in Gaza,