US distances itself from Gaza aid group under scrutiny

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
29 May 2025 11:18

The US- and Israeli-backed GHF faces criticism over a disorganized food aid rollout, unclear leadership, and accusations of politicizing humanitarian aid.

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Displaced Palestinians carrying bags of relief supplies return from aid distribution centers in Rafah to their tents in the southern Gaza Strip on May 29, 2025 (AFP)

After being publicly endorsed by US officials, the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has come under sharp scrutiny due to a chaotic aid distribution rollout, opaque leadership, and growing allegations of politicizing humanitarian assistance amid the ongoing Israeli blockade on Gaza, The Guardian reported.

The GHF initially promised to restore large-scale food deliveries to the Gaza Strip, claiming it would mitigate conditions nearing famine. However, the first days of its operation have instead been marked by disorder. Leaked video footage and on-the-ground reports showed large crowds storming a distribution point, prompting Israeli forces to fire what they called “warning shots” to disperse civilians.

Gaza health officials reported that at least one civilian was killed and 48 injured during the incident. GHF, however, denied any casualties, claiming instead that 14,550 food boxes, equating to over 840,000 meals, had been distributed.

Another video documents the chaos as a result of the GHF's first day of operation in #Gaza.

It's worth mentioning that the Israeli-backed group had bypassed humanitarian norms and mechanisms and employed a #US private company to maintain "security. pic.twitter.com/Tc7sWgtvgR
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 27, 2025

Leadership crisis, resignations within GHF

The leadership structure of GHF has become increasingly unclear. Jake Wood, a former US Marine who initially led the group, resigned on Sunday, citing ethical concerns.

It "is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon,” Wood said in a public statement. He was succeeded on an interim basis by John Acree, a former senior official at USAID.

Companies tied to the GHF in Geneva and Delaware are reportedly being dissolved, according to a GHF spokesperson quoted in investigative Israeli media, further deepening uncertainty over the organization’s legal and financial foundations.

Criticism from UN, EU, and humanitarian agencies

Humanitarian organizations, including the UN, have refused to collaborate with GHF. Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, criticized the distribution point as a “militarized" site built on the rubble of people’s homes and said tens of thousands of desperate civilians had come under fire.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, condemned the effort as an example of humanitarian aid being “weaponized”, adding that the EU opposed the privatization of aid delivery.

GHF: A plan originating from Israeli officials

According to reports in The New York Times, the concept behind the GHF originated from Israeli officials during the early weeks of the war on Gaza, aimed at undermining the authority of Hamas. Allegations have also surfaced about links between GHF and private US security contractors.

US distances itself from GHF

The US State Department has attempted to distance itself from the organization. “This is not a State Department effort. We don’t have a plan,” said spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a recent press briefing.

She added that inquiries should be directed to GHF, which did not respond to requests for comment on its current leadership, legal status, or ties to US contractors.

In a written statement sent to The Guardian, GHF defended its efforts, blaming “acute hunger and Hamas-imposed blockades” for pressure at the distribution sites, completely refraining from addressing the role of "Israel" in restricting aid.

“Unfortunately, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail,” the organization added.