Searching for answers about US-backed aid agency in Gaza

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF, is a new aid group that was created in Delaware, USA, shortly after President Donald Trump took office. Its goal is to provide food to the people of Gaza, a densely populated area where over two million Palestinians face severe food shortages due to ongoing conflict. The GHF is supported by the US and Israel but operates independently of the United Nations, which has traditionally been the main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza. This new foundation has become the focus of international attention because of the dangerous and chaotic conditions surrounding its aid distribution sites, where several deadly incidents have occurred. Eyewitnesses have reported Israeli forces firing on crowds trying to reach GHF aid locations, while Israel accuses Hamas of attempting to sabotage the operations. The GHF itself reported that eight of its local Palestinian workers were killed in an attack by Hamas, and recent clashes have resulted in the deaths of at least 15 Palestinians. These events highlight the complex and violent environment in which humanitarian aid is being delivered.

The GHF was established with the intention of feeding civilians in Gaza, where the United Nations warns that millions are at risk of starvation. Unlike the UN, the GHF uses armed American security contractors and works closely with the Israeli military, which has raised concerns among critics. Some see the foundation as part of a strategy by the Israeli government to push Palestinians into smaller areas of Gaza, effectively displacing them. Israel argues that the UN system was vulnerable to aid being stolen by Hamas, and therefore a new system was necessary. However, Hamas denies these accusations, and the previous US administration under President Joe Biden believed that any diversion of aid was not significant enough to justify blocking supplies. In March, Israel cut off all food and aid to Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, a move widely condemned by the international community. Amid this crisis, the GHF emerged as an alternative aid provider, but many questions remain about its funding, leadership, and transparency.

Attempts to learn more about the GHF have revealed little concrete information. The foundation was registered in Delaware, a state known for its lenient company registration rules, but the listed address is simply an office that helps register companies and does not serve as an operational base. Efforts to contact the foundation's leaders have been unsuccessful, and the group has not disclosed details about its funding or board members. Some individuals initially linked to the GHF, including former leaders of well-known aid organizations, have denied involvement. The foundation's executive director resigned shortly after taking the role, citing concerns that the project violated humanitarian principles such as neutrality and independence. Aid experts and UN officials have criticized the GHF for militarizing aid delivery and risking the safety of civilians who must cross conflict lines to receive food. They argue that humanitarian aid must remain impartial to protect both workers and recipients. Israel, on the other hand, accuses the UN of bias and has taken steps to limit its operations in Gaza. The controversy surrounding the GHF deepened when a major consulting firm dismissed employees involved in setting up the foundation without authorization. Experts warn that the GHF's approach resembles historical military tactics aimed at controlling populations through starvation, a claim Israel denies. The situation remains tense and uncertain, with many Palestinians still desperate for food and aid amid ongoing violence.