The United States in September established the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This new organization will be responsible for coordinating and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged territory of Gaza. This project comes as Israel has prevented all aid from coming in since March 2nd. As a consequence, 2.3 million residents in the US territory are experiencing acute scarcities of food, fuel, and pharmaceuticals. The U.S. aims to ensure that aid does not reach Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, while addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of its civilians.
As part of their plan, the GHF has proposed the construction of four “Secure Distribution Sites,” each designed to meet the needs of 300,000 individuals. The initiative has already been criticized for bypassing UN and other traditional humanitarian aid channels. Critics contend that it would add to the toll of extremely vulnerable Palestinian civilians who are already under siege.
Security and Logistics of Aid Distribution
It’s great to see that Israel has done so, committing explicitly to ensuring security for the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. It will be absent from the ongoing distribution of disaster relief funds. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee further indicated that the security of these hubs would be left to private contractors. Palestinians will have no other place to converge in order to receive desperately needed supplies. These materials are notoriously difficult to obtain, raising major accessibility issues. Over half of those expelled from northern Gaza will have difficulty accessing these centers.
Far from providing the protection that U.S. officials have assured, critics contend that the plan as currently envisioned would result in increased civilian pain and death.
“This appears to be a deliberate attempt to weaponise the aid,” – Jens Laerke
There’s significant concern that the GHF’s model would restrict access to humanitarian assistance for marginalized populations. This goes for children, the elderly and sick, who often live in the margins even in normal times. This has contributed to at least 57 Palestinians dying of starvation since the beginning of the Israeli blockade. The humanitarian disaster has underscored the need for a coordinated and effective humanitarian response.
Concerns Over Humanitarian Aid Manipulation
Critics of the GHF initiative, including state and national organizations, have expressed intense opposition. They claim it provides cover for Israel’s military incursions to kill Palestinians. Chris Gunness, a former spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), condemned the proposal as a “cynical attempt.” He pointed to how it tries to cover up the war’s humanitarian catastrophe as folks are being “starved into submission.”
“There’s only one word to describe this, and this is aid-washing,” – Chris Gunness
It’s important to Gunness that the GHF’s creation not be confused with humanitarian relief. Additionally, it is a cynical and strategic attempt to derail all current UN initiatives in Gaza. The implications, he stressed, could lead to the dismemberment of UNRWA. This agency is critical for providing important services like education and health care to millions of Palestinian refugees.
Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce of the U.S. State Department made the foundation’s announcement. They are clearly hoping to offer a more central and controlled distribution of this aid and keep it out of Hamas’s reach. Critics claim that this approach overlooks the proven systems that have long supported humanitarian aid in war-torn areas.
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Despite the current efforts, the situation in Gaza is still dire and will not change while the blockade persists. The humanitarian needs of the civilian population are at a breaking point with most people cut off from vital services including food and water. Contrary to initial relief expectations, reports now show that starvation is a critical concern – with the impact of hunger hitting the most vulnerable members of society hardest.
Mike Huckabee described the urgency behind these new measures by stating, “The most significant danger is not doing anything.” Yet his comments echo the desperate situation on the ground and in their communities calling for urgent action and increased funding.
