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Evangelical ally of 'Israel' tapped to lead Gaza aid foundation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: New websites
4 Jun 2025 08:29
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Johnnie Moore, an evangelical leader and Trump advisor, takes over the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as it faces backlash, partner withdrawals, and criticism.

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Johnnie Moore speaks onstage at The Simon Wiesenthal Center's 2017 National Tribute Dinner at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 5, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. (Getty Images via AFP)

An evangelical leader and advisor to US President Donald Trump on interfaith issues has been appointed the new head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial US- and "Israel"-backed initiative that is attempting to recover from high-level resignations and operational criticism.

Johnnie Moore, a member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and founder of the Kairos Company, assumed leadership after former GHF head Jake Wood resigned. Wood, a former marine, cited concerns about the foundation’s ability to remain independent from Israeli interests.

Resignations, growing criticism over 'Israel' ties

Moore has publicly defended the GHF, pushing back against criticism of its launch. In a post addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Moore dismissed reports of Palestinians being killed or injured while seeking aid in Gaza as "a lie … spread by terrorists."

Despite Moore’s efforts to defend the initiative, the GHF continues to face fallout. Major partners, including Boston Consulting Group (BCG), have withdrawn support amid intensifying scrutiny of the group’s transparency, funding sources, and affiliation with "Israel".

Operational uncertainty as BCG withdraws from GHF

BCG, which had been reported as overseeing key logistics for the GHF, announced the cancellation of its contract on Tuesday. The consulting firm stated that unapproved work relating to Gaza was halted on May 30 due to the absence of consensus from multilateral stakeholders. A spokesperson confirmed to CNN that BCG “has not and will not be paid for any of this work.”

BCG also disclosed that the employee leading the Gaza aid project had been placed on administrative leave, pending an internal review. The Washington Post reported that BCG was instrumental in developing the GHF’s infrastructure, including pricing and equipping contractors to build four distribution hubs in southern Gaza.

Three individuals familiar with both organizations told the Post that the GHF would struggle to function without the logistical support provided by BCG.

Moore defends GHF amid accusations of misinformation

The GHF announced via social media that all distribution points would be temporarily closed on Wednesday for “update, organization and efficiency improvement work,” with operations expected to resume on Thursday. However, the group did not provide specific details about the changes.

In a public statement, Moore praised the GHF’s delivery of over seven million meals in the past week, a figure that remains unverified, and criticized media reports highlighting disorganization and unclear finances.

“GHF believes that serving the people of Gaza with dignity and compassion must be the top priority,” Moore stated. He warned against disseminating what he described as “unverified information from sources that have repeatedly issued demonstrably false reports.”

Local health officials in Gaza reported that on May 27, Israeli troops opened fire during the second day of operations at a GHF distribution center, killing one person and injuring over 50 others.

Moore, a 'noted evangelical friend' of 'Israel'

Moore's close ties to pro-"Israel" circles have raised further questions about the independence of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. According to a biography on the Kairos Company website, Moore is described as a "noted friend of the State of Israel” and is credited with involvement in promoting the normalization agreements between "Israel" and several Arab states.