The humanitarian conditions in Gaza have become a hot topic of international discussion since the outbreak of the Hamas conflict with Israel in 2023. Various aid organizations, both long-established and newer ones, are stepping up efforts to provide essential support to Palestinians. Yet, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has backing from the U.S. and Israel, is facing pushback as it tries to deliver food to the region.
“What sets GHF apart from other aid entities, like the United Nations, is its operational approach toward Hamas,” noted Joe Tolsman, a senior research analyst who has been involved with the Democrat Defense Foundation’s war journal. He claims that while the GHF aims to assist, it effectively sidelines Hamas from the aid distribution process.
Despite receiving criticism and accusations of mishandling assistance at its distribution points, GHF has provided over 76 million meals since its inception in late May. Truzman commented that Hamas is closely monitoring GHF’s success because the group cannot exert control over aid that flows in from this foundation.
Truzman posits that Hamas’s reactions to GHF suggest that to maintain its grip on Gaza, the militant group needs to demonstrate a loss of access to crucial community resources. As Tolsman points out, Hamas utilizes various “social welfare programs” to maintain its influence, including charities, mosques, and schools, which ultimately helps it leverage power over the local population.
The foundation’s ability to bypass Hamas in the aid distribution process was a major concern for the U.S. when it agreed to support GHF. Following the announcement of $30 million in funding for the foundation, State Department representative Tommy Piggott emphasized the need for GHF to operate without Hamas interference.
Some critics, particularly from the UN, have looked unfavorably at GHF, attributing their stance to being “very anti-Israel” and resistant to new approaches. Tolsman remarked that the UN appears uneasy about losing its influence in Gaza.
On Tuesday, GHF’s executive director, Rev. Johnny Moore, claimed that his organization aided in securing UN reauthorization for access to Gaza when it was restored. In response to inquiries about this claim, the UN office did not provide a clear answer. However, OCHA spokesman Eri Kaneko stated that the urgent necessity of humanitarian access must remain a priority, noting that the lives of Gazans are at risk.
