A humanitarian group backed by the U.S. and Israel has started to take over aid operations in Gaza, despite opposition from the United Nations and other aid organizations. The move coincides with Israel reaching 600 days since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas — the inciting event for the war in Gaza.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the new lead aid group, began operations this week, just as its executive director resigned on Sunday, May 25.
What happens now?
GHF is now handling tasks previously led by the U.N., which, until recently, provided most of Gaza’s food, medical supplies, fuel, tents and other essentials. This shift comes as Israel renewed military operations aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the remaining 58 Israeli hostages — 23 of whom are believed to still be alive.
Authorities now limit aid distribution to just a few centers guarded by armed security contractors and located near Israeli military hubs. Israel pushed for the change, accusing Hamas of stealing aid and blocking food deliveries.
For months, Israel has blocked medical supplies, food, fuel and other aid from entering Gaza, only recently allowing for the flow of aid to resume, under the condition that GHF heads operations. Under the new arrangement, the U.N. must now coordinate through GHF to continue distributing supplies.
Why do the UN and others oppose the move?
The U.N. argues that GHF lacks the capacity, independence and logistical reach needed and warns that the setup may violate international law by “weaponizing” food. Critics point to an incident on Tuesday, May 27, when thousands of Palestinians flooded a new GHF distribution site and Israeli troops opened fire. The incident injured three people, and some Palestinians left with little or no food.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the situation but stated that it had since been brought under control, and aid operations will continue. World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres condemned the incident and GHF’s operations on X.
“The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has left Palestinians without food. The people that created it are selfish,” Andres wrote on the social media platform, and argued the change in operations has left Gazans “really hungry.”
But just a day later, on Wednesday, May 28, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said multiple people were killed and dozens of others were injured when Israeli troops shot at a crowd rushing a food distribution hub run by the GHF. Israeli officials deny that troops fired upon those seeking aid.
Ongoing challenges
Adding to the GHF’s challenges, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry has advised Palestinians against accepting help from the organization. Some residents told The Associated Press they fear approaching Israeli-controlled aid hubs. Others noted that, unlike before, they now encounter American or Israeli security forces when seeking food.
Trucks delivering food are heavily guarded, and Israeli officials have admitted the current system excludes portions of the population. The U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warns that 500,000 Palestinians face starvation if food deliveries don’t ramp up.
How many distribution hubs are running?
The Israeli military reports that two of the four planned hubs are now operational. GHF stated that it will be able to feed nearly half of Gaza’s population by the end of the week and ultimately aims to serve all 2.3 million residents. It expects the remaining hubs to be ready within a month.
The group said the goal is to prevent aid theft by Hamas or criminal groups, but it has not specified how or when aid will reach areas currently excluded.
Critics argue the hubs are difficult to access, especially for residents in northern Gaza, where no distribution sites currently exist. Most Palestinians now live in the north, while all existing aid hubs are located in the central and southern regions.
The U.N. contends this amounts to forced displacement, as Gazans must walk across Israeli military lines, often undergoing vetting processes, to receive food. Human rights groups warn this system could discriminate against those suspected of Hamas ties, determining who eats and who doesn’t.
Why did GHF’s head resign?
It’s also unclear who will run GHF following the resignation of its former leader, Jake Wood. Wood co-founded a disaster aid group dubbed Team Rubicon and is a U.S. military veteran. Wood said on Sunday that he was stepping down because it was evident GHF would not be able to operate independently without interference from Israel. He also questioned his organization’s ability to adequately distribute all the necessary aid to Gazans.
In a letter to Israeli officials before his resignation, Wood stated that the U.N. should continue its operations until GHF could establish at least eight distribution hubs. He acknowledged that the U.N. would continue to supply medicine, hygiene items and tents, as his organization was unable to handle the distribution of such materials.
Israel’s aid coordination agency, COGAT, has not confirmed whether it agreed to those conditions.
UN warns GHF can’t meet Gaza’s needs
The U.N. and other humanitarian agencies argue the GHF is incapable of meeting the needs of Gazans, as its plans for distribution remain in flux. Each GHF meal contains 1,750 calories, short of the 2,100-calorie daily emergency minimum set by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
These groups say the most difficult obstacle to food aid isn’t who runs it, it’s Israel’s restrictions. The country wants full access across Gaza for established aid groups.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said that the U.N. and other aid organizations “have shown that they can meet the needs of that population, when allowed to.” Elder added, “We need to just keep reverting back to what works.”
Vetting concerns
Israel has previously told aid organizations that it plans to vet aid recipients by employing facial recognition technology. GHF, however, maintains food will be distributed based on need, not on eligibility. But critics argue crossing through Israeli military checkpoints will open up Palestinians to a vetting process.
GHF, founded earlier this year, is staffed by U.S. security contractors, ex-military personnel, and aid workers. It has full support from the U.S. and Israeli governments.
The GHF has refuted allegations of “weaponizing” aid distribution or instigating mass displacement. It describes itself as a non-political organization committed to maintaining “impartiality and independence.”
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce dismissed concerns about the GHF and said the No. 1 priority is getting aid to Gazans, regardless of who’s delivering it. She accused Hamas of stopping aid convoys operated by the GHF due to the lack of food getting to distribution hubs, but said Hamas failed, and convoy operations have since resumed.
