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Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to Begin Aid Distribution Despite Chief’s Resignation
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by US & Israel, plans to deliver aid to 1 million Palestinians despite its chief resigning over independence concerns. UN warns aid efforts may be undermined.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-26
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to Begin Aid Distribution Despite Chief’s Resignation

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an NGO backed by Israel and the United States, has announced plans to begin distributing food, medicine, and vital supplies in the besieged Gaza Strip. This comes just hours after its executive director, Jake Wood, resigned, citing serious concerns about the organisation’s independence and adherence to humanitarian principles.

GHF aims to deliver aid to 1 million Palestinians by the end of this week, with plans to rapidly scale to cover the entire population of 2.3 million. The NGO’s efforts come amid a two-month blockade by the Israeli military that has severely restricted aid access to Gaza, triggering warnings from aid agencies of widespread famine and starvation deaths.

Wood, who resigned on Sunday, stated that GHF failed to maintain neutrality, impartiality, humanity, and independence, principles he refused to abandon. He also called on Israel to allow increased aid entry into Gaza.

The United Nations and multiple humanitarian organisations have refused to collaborate with GHF, citing risks to civilians and concerns that the NGO’s operations — which require Palestinians to gather at centralized aid points — could undermine existing relief efforts and put people in harm’s way.

GHF’s formation traces back to meetings among officials, military officers, and businesspeople closely linked to the Israeli government. Critics warn the NGO’s aid distribution plans may serve Israeli objectives, including restricting aid access to northern Gaza to depopulate the region and concentrate civilians in the south.

The ongoing blockade and limited aid deliveries have left 93% of Gaza’s population, approximately 1.95 million people, facing acute food insecurity, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report. Aid agencies have condemned the situation as a man-made famine, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Experts like Professor Robert Patman from the University of Otago note that GHF lacks support from established humanitarian actors and that the international focus should be on lifting the blockade rather than introducing new humanitarian organisations.

Despite Wood’s resignation and widespread criticism, GHF’s board expressed disappointment but reaffirmed commitment to expanding aid delivery. The US State Department also voiced continued support for the NGO.

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, the effectiveness and impartiality of aid efforts remain under intense scrutiny amid geopolitical tensions and competing interests.

 
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