Democratic senators call GHF Gaza aid scheme deadly, urge funding cut
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The US senators have accused the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation of bias, noting its close coordination with the Israeli military.
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Boxes and bags of humanitarian aid delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation are seen in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on May 29, 2025 (AP)
A group of senior Democratic senators has demanded that the Trump administration immediately halt funding to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial private organization accused of facilitating "Israel’s" ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza.
In a letter addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to "Israel" Mike Huckabee, and OMB Director Russ Vought, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Peter Welch, joined by 19 others, urged that GHF funding be cut and redirected to established UN-led aid networks.
“We urge you to immediately cease all US funding for GHF and resume support for the existing UN-led aid coordination mechanisms,” the senators wrote.
GHF’s role under fire
The letter, shared with The Guardian, condemned the administration’s decision to fund GHF despite warnings from USAID officials of major risks, including poor oversight and reputational damage.
GHF began distributing aid in Gaza in May 2025, after "Israel" restricted humanitarian entry to just four militarized distribution sites in the south, replacing a UN system that previously ran over 400 aid points across the Strip.
The senators argue this shift was designed to fragment aid delivery and facilitate forced displacement, as Palestinians were pushed to travel long distances into dangerous zones.
According to UN data, thousands have been killed while attempting to access food near GHF’s sites, often under fire from Israeli tanks, drones, and soldiers. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in June, “Any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarised zones is inherently unsafe. It is killing people.”
Links to military contractors
The senators raised further concerns that GHF is not a neutral humanitarian actor, noting its close coordination with the Israeli military and reliance on US private military contractors, including Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions. These contractors reportedly used live ammunition and stun grenades at aid sites.
GHF’s first executive director, Jake Wood, resigned before the foundation launched operations, citing the abandonment of basic humanitarian principles.
Funding without oversight
Despite these warnings, the State Department approved a $30 million grant to GHF in June under a White House “priority directive". The decision bypassed audits, Congressional consultation, and mandatory vetting processes. It was also exempted from third-party monitoring.
The senators demanded full transparency, including the release of GHF’s funding documents and contracts, export licences for military services, and clarification on whether US nationals employed by GHF-linked contractors have engaged in hostilities in Gaza.
GHF has also been linked to the so-called “Gaza Riviera” plan, a controversial development proposal envisioning large-scale camps for Palestinians outside Gaza. Critics say the scheme legitimises "Israel’s" ethnic cleansing strategy by paving the way for permanent displacement.
“The system risks facilitating forced displacement and legitimising war crimes,” the senators warned.
