HAMAS branded US President Donald Trump’s special envoy visit to Gaza a “publicity stunt“ today.

Steve Witkoff's visit comes as the humanitarian crisis in the enclave rapidly deteriorates and killings continue.

Medical sources in Gaza reported that at least 38 people were killed by the Israelis today, including 12 aid seekers, with more than 80 people wounded.

The US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) denied anyone was killed at their sites today and said most recent incidents had taken place near United Nations aid convoys.

Mr Witkoff visited the south of the strip today as international outrage continues to grow over starvation, shortages and deadly chaos near aid distribution sites.

With food scarce and parcels being air dropped, Mr Witkoff and US ambassador Mike Huckabee toured one of GHF’s distribution sites in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that Mr Witkoff was sent to craft a plan to boost food and aid deliveries, while Mr Trump wrote on social media that the fastest way to end the crisis would be for Hamas to surrender and release its hostages.

All four of GHF’s sites have become flashpoints during their months of operation, with starving people scrambling for scarce aid. 

Hundreds have been killed by Israeli gunfire.

The Israeli military claims it only fires warning shots at people who approach its forces, while GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or warning shots to prevent crowding.

But Hamas said today that the visit by Mr Wikoff to Gaza "is nothing more than a publicity stunt aimed at containing the growing outrage over US-Israeli complicity in starving our people in the strip.

“Mr Witkoff will see only what the occupation wants him to see and will view the ongoing catastrophe through Israel’s deceptive lens.

“He will certainly not witness the workings of the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” the hunger guillotine that sets the stage for the Zionist war machine’s killing.”

“The White House’s acknowledgment of 'Gaza’s famine,' after long denying it, without condemning the occupation that caused it, amounts to exonerating the perpetrator and providing political cover for the gravest crime in modern history," Hamas added.

In a report issued on Friday Human Rights Watch labelled the humanitarian aid arrangements "a flawed, militarised aid distribution system that has turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths."

"It would be near impossible for Palestinians to follow the instructions issued by GHF, stay safe and receive aid.”