The United States has announced its first direct funding, $30 million, for the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This Israeli-supported relief effort has faced significant scrutiny. The US State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, urged other nations to support the GHF's "critical work" despite ongoing concerns.
This funding comes after Israel blocked crucial aid deliveries to Gaza for over two months, beginning in March. This blockade led to severe warnings of famine across the territory, which has been extensively damaged by Israeli bombing following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Operating since late May, the GHF, backed by armed US contractors and with Israeli troops on its perimeter, has been plagued by chaos, fatalities, and questions regarding its neutrality. The Gaza health ministry reports that nearly 550 people have been killed near aid centers since late May while desperately seeking supplies.
Despite these alarming figures, the GHF denies that any deadly incidents occurred immediately around its aid distribution points. This assertion contrasts sharply with reports from the Gaza health ministry and other on-the-ground observations.
Major international aid organizations and the United Nations have refused to collaborate with the GHF. Their primary concern is that the privately run group's coordination with military troops violates fundamental humanitarian principles, compromising its impartiality.
Responding to the criticism, Pigott praised the GHF's distribution of 46 million meals as "absolutely incredible" and deserving of applause. He stated that US support for the GHF, under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is part of a broader "pursuit of peace in the region."
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2605950/world