Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.
President Trump's Mideast Envoy will be in Israel today for discussions on Gaza,
which health experts say is on the brink of famine.
Steve Witkoff's trip comes as international pressure grows for Israel to end the war and to give Gaza greater access to food aid.
MPR's Aya Batraoui reports.
Officials in Israel and at the State Department confirmed to NPR Steve Witkoff's trip to Israel Thursday.
His last visit to the region was in May,
where he helped broker the release of an Israeli-American soldier held captive in Gaza by Hamas.
But conditions have only worsened since then for Palestinians in Gaza.
Analysts say there could be an opening for a ceasefire deal now, though.
That's
because far-right Israeli politicians who want the war to continue can't immediately bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government
while lawmakers there are in recess.
Israel and Hamas, however, remain far apart on key aspects of a deal.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza continues to climb,
surpassing 60,000 people killed, its health ministry says.
South Korea's government and corporations are expressing relief.
After a deal was reached on tariffs with the U.S., MPR's Anthony Kuhn reports that without the deal,
the U.S. would have imposed heavy tariffs on South Korea on Friday.
President E.J.