UN and aid agencies are concerned that Israel’s plan to control humanitarian aid in Gaza will politicize aid distribution, worsen already dire conditions, and violate humanitarian principles. They argue that the proposal could restrict who receives aid and fear that it will exacerbate suffering by displacing large populations and failing to meet essential needs[2][3][4].

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is a newly registered nonprofit in Switzerland, led largely by Americans, which aims to oversee humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza using private security contractors and logistics frameworks. Its proposal involves setting up four distribution sites initially serving half of Gaza’s population, with plans to scale up, but does not specify a clear timeframe or detail all security arrangements[2][3].

The ongoing blockade and Israel’s control over aid entry have severely restricted humanitarian supplies, leading to acute shortages of food, water, and medical care. This has resulted in widespread suffering and a deepening humanitarian crisis for Gazans[4][5].

The U.S. government supports a new aid mechanism for Gaza through the GHF to bypass Hamas and ensure aid reaches civilians, with several partners already committed. U.S. officials deny any rift with Israel and describe their relationship as strong. However, the exact details of the plan and full list of partners are yet to be disclosed[1][2].

International organizations such as UNICEF have criticized Israel’s proposed plan and the ongoing blockade, emphasizing that humanitarian aid should not be politicized. They urge Israel to lift the blockade and ensure impartial, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for all civilians in need[5].