U.S. State Department considering giving $500 million to new Gaza aid group

U.S. State Department considering giving $500 million to new Gaza aid group

The U.S. State Department is reportedly considering providing $500 million in aid to a newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The foundation, which has been operating for just over a week, has been distributing aid in Gaza under a controversial model that has been criticized by the United Nations and other aid groups. The GHF has been distributing seven million meals so far, using private U.S. security and logistics companies [1].

The appointment of Rev. Dr. Johnnie Moore, a former evangelical adviser to the White House during President Donald Trump's first term, as the executive chairman of GHF has raised concerns among international aid organizations. Moore has publicly supported Trump's proposal for the U.S. to take over Gaza and develop it economically, which has been met with criticism from the United Nations [1].

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the United Nations warning that the entire population is at risk of famine. The U.S. has recently eased a more than two-month blockade on Gaza, but aid groups have urged for more food to be allowed in. The GHF's model, which involves coordinating relief efforts with the Israeli military, has been criticized for militarizing aid distribution and making it conditional on political and military aims [1].

The U.S. State Department has acknowledged that the GHF's relief efforts have been successful in distributing meals but has also noted that there is room for improvement. The department has blamed the presence of Israeli troops on the lack of a surrender by Hamas, which Israel has been battling since an armed group's unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023 [1].

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has attacked media outlets that have reported on injuries in Gaza aid delivery, saying they are contributing to an anti-Semitic climate. The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has stated that the Trump administration is currently looking into the veracity of the Red Cross's account of deaths in Gaza [1].

The U.S. State Department's consideration of $500 million in aid for the GHF comes as the country seeks to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, the aid's effectiveness and the GHF's model remain a contentious issue among international aid organizations and the United Nations.

References:
[1] https://www.arabnews.com/node/2603284/middle-east