Visit to Israel and Gaza: Insights on Humanitarian Efforts
Earlier this month, I traveled to Israel with a bipartisan group from the House Intelligence Committee. The goal? To meet with Israeli leaders and Palestinian authorities working in aid organizations, and to observe the situation on the ground firsthand.
Our main focus was twofold: we wanted to reach the innocent civilians in Gaza and address the threat posed by Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for the horrific attacks that began on October 7, 2023.
One key place I visited was Kelem Shalom, a crucial hub for aid destined for Gaza. There, I saw numerous trucks filled with food and supplies waiting to cross into Gaza. Additionally, we went to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s Distribution Command Center, where American contractors are working tirelessly to ensure aid is distributed safely.
The issue isn’t the absence of assistance—rather, it’s that the amounts are insufficient, and much of it does not reach those who need it most. On one of my quick crossings from Israel to Gaza, I noticed a truck loaded with food and clothes on the Gaza side, where it remained idle and undelivered.
Let’s be clear: there is an urgent need for a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. I expressed this urgency to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, it’s Hamas that must bear the responsibility for the failed distribution to families and children.
Even the UN, which isn’t particularly friendly toward Israel, reported that nearly 90% of the aid is intercepted before it can reach civilians. The reason? The UN won’t allow the IDF to protect aid trucks, leading to rampant looting before the supplies can be delivered. It’s a chaotic situation.
We’ve all witnessed distressing videos of desperate Palestinians fighting for food from moving trucks. Hamas has attacked trucks and drivers, stealing aid meant for civilians to replenish their resources and profit from it on the black market. In fact, last year alone, Hamas allegedly made over $500 million from stolen aid.
This situation goes beyond a humanitarian crisis; it’s a strategic exploitation of civilian suffering for profit.
There’s, however, a more effective approach to aid delivery. The GHF Distribution Command Center has established safe distribution sites designed to prevent looting, ensuring that aid actually reaches those in need. Currently, GHF represents around 20% of the aid entering Gaza, and their success suggests there’s room for improvement in how aid is delivered.
Regrettably, both the UN and various global food programs have resisted collaborating with GHF, resulting in piles of aid waiting at distribution points. We need to change that. Better coordination between GHF and Israel could expedite food delivery to families while cutting off Hamas’ financial resources.
It’s evident why Hamas opposes GHF’s success—they can’t steal or sell the aid that gets directly to families. At the GHF, Palestinians receive boxes filled with food sufficient for three days.
Hamas frequently denounces GHF, claiming civilian deaths occur at aid sites—without proof—while these deaths often happen when civilians rush to collect supplies or during violent acts incited by Hamas fighters. Just last June, Hamas targeted GHF workers, killing several who were trying to distribute aid.
Ultimately, aiding the people is crucial in the broader struggle against Hamas.
Following my visit to Kelem Shalom, I went to Kibbutz Kfal Aza, where, tragically, Hamas terrorists killed 80 Israelis and kidnapped 19 on October 7th. Overall, Hamas has brutally murdered, raped, and committed horrific acts against over 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans. Walking through those grounds, I was reminded of the severity of what sparked this conflict and how the cycle continues.
Almost two years post-October 7th, Hamas is reportedly starving the remaining hostages. One family even had to dig into their own grave. The remains of two American citizens still linger in captivity.
Most of this information hasn’t made it into mainstream reports. Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on the Western media to enter Gaza, emphasizing the need for the world to understand that it’s Hamas, not Israel, preventing food from reaching innocent Palestinians.
Our mission is clear: to get humanitarian aid directly to civilians, secure the release of hostages, and dismantle Hamas’s power to ensure that the tragedies of October 7th are never repeated.
