By Atoyebi Nike
The newly launched Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has begun distributing aid inside Gaza under a private security-led initiative backed by the United States and Israel. The group, whose operational model bypasses the United Nations, claims to have delivered truckloads of food to “Secure Distribution Sites,” with plans to expand operations in the coming days.
The announcement late Monday follows widespread condemnation from international humanitarian agencies who argue that the GHF’s approach violates fundamental humanitarian principles, especially neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Critics say the use of armed American contractors and the exclusion of established aid groups risks further complicating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The GHF did not disclose the volume of aid delivered or the number of recipients reached. Photos released by the group showed a small group of men transporting boxes at an undisclosed location. Efforts by the BBC to obtain further details have gone unanswered.
The group also confirmed a change in leadership, appointing John Acree, a former USAID senior official, as interim executive director following the resignation of Jake Wood. Wood cited irreconcilable differences over the GHF’s operational framework, stating that the model could not fulfill the principles of neutral and impartial humanitarian delivery.
Despite this, the GHF’s board has defended its approach, asserting it could feed up to one million people within a week. It has dismissed criticism as an attempt to protect the “status quo” of aid operations.
Under the GHF model, security-screened Palestinians must travel to designated southern Gaza sites to collect pre-packaged food and hygiene boxes. The sites are protected by American security personnel with Israeli forces stationed on the perimeters.
Humanitarian actors, including the UN and Norwegian Refugee Council, have refused to participate. They warn the plan could leave vulnerable populations—the elderly, injured, and disabled—without access to aid, deepen displacement, and weaponize humanitarian relief.
“This is militarized, privatized, and politicides aid,” said Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. “It doesn’t reflect the principles of neutrality and independence.”
Hamas, which governs Gaza, has also rejected the GHF’s efforts, calling the programme a vehicle for “engineered starvation” and an erosion of civilian protections.
GHF in turn accused Hamas of threatening aid workers and attempting to disrupt distribution at its secure sites.
The aid rollout comes amid a devastating humanitarian crisis. Israel imposed a full blockade on Gaza on March 2, resuming its military offensive two weeks later in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages. Since then, at least 665 aid trucks have been allowed in, but the UN’s World Food Programme says this represents only a fraction of what is needed.
More than 500,000 Palestinians are now facing catastrophic hunger, according to UN-backed assessments, with aid groups warning that the GHF’s unilateral approach risks worsening the crisis.
Since the start of the war following Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023, Gaza’s death toll has surpassed 53,977, including 3,822 since the latest Israeli offensive began, according to the territory’s health ministry.
The GHF says it will continue to scale up distributions this week, despite growing opposition from both local and international actors. The debate underscores the ongoing struggle over how humanitarian aid should be delivered in conflict zones—raising urgent questions about access, sovereignty, and ethics.
