New Leadership at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Aims to Focus on Food Aid
The newly appointed president of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Johnny Moore, is directing the organization’s efforts towards what he describes as its “singular mission”: providing essential food supplies to the people of Gaza, regardless of criticism. “Our mission isn’t connected to Hamas or Israel,” Moore stated. “It’s all about ensuring that hungry Gazans receive food. That’s our unique focus—nothing else matters.”
Moore officially took over on June 3, shortly after various Israeli and U.S. aid groups began their distribution efforts in the region. Even before the GHF initiated aid distribution, it faced significant scrutiny. The United Nations expressed strong opposition, notably from Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Humanitarian Conditions and Emergency Relief Coordinator, who argued that the UN already had capabilities to handle infrastructure and aid distribution.
In response, Moore contends that the GHF is attempting to tackle a problem that the UN has struggled with, specifically the issue of Hamas allegedly misappropriating aid. Rather than engage with critics, he encourages involvement from those on the ground in Gaza to support the GHF’s food distribution initiatives.
According to Moore, despite various criticisms, many Gazans have expressed deep gratitude for the support they are receiving. He added that recipients of aid are thankful not only to the U.S. but also to President Donald Trump. Moore attributes this gratitude to a promise made by Trump during a press conference from the Oval Office.
“They specifically mention their thanks to President Trump,” Moore noted. He elaborated that Trump’s comments regarding how poorly Hamas treats the Gazans in terms of humanitarian aid resonate deeply, with many attributing the ongoing food assistance to Trump’s commitments.
Both Israel and the U.S. have endorsed the GHF as an effective mechanism for distributing aid in a manner that prevents Hamas from benefiting. Moore expressed concerns that the aid community has historically had to navigate through “false choices” between assisting Gaza’s civilians and the potential diversion of aid to Hamas.
“For years, the prevailing thought was that in order to provide necessary assistance, a portion would inevitably end up in the hands of malicious entities; this is fundamentally misguided,” he said.
However, rising tensions have complicated matters. The Israel Defense Forces strongly refuted claims suggesting that Palestinians targeted humanitarian sites in Gaza, citing recent violence and looting incidents as disruptors to aid distribution.
Moore also highlighted issues involving security for aid delivery, mentioning that looting by armed groups poses significant risks to drivers and affects the flow of supplies. “We need to ensure increased safety and efficiency in delivering aid to meet the pressing needs of Gazans,” he remarked.
Recently, UN Ambassador Danny Danone indicated that international organizations have faced “mafia-like” pressure from groups resistant to working with the GHF. The UN has since removed numerous NGOs from a central system used to track aid delivery to Gaza.
In a striking turn, the U.S. recently rejected a UN Security Council resolution aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, which also included points on humanitarian assistance. Danone argued that the resolution would undermine, rather than support, humanitarian efforts. Just before this rejection, U.S. chargéd’affaires Dorothy Shea urged the UN to ensure aid is provided safely, without it falling into Hamas’s hands.
