The new aid delivery mechanism: Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
In May 2025, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-Israeli initiative, commenced operations to distribute aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza. This move aimed to bypass Hamas-controlled distribution channels, with the goal of removing Hamas’ tools for governing Gaza (the ability to pay fighters and stalwarts with the revenue from stolen humanitarian aid).
GHF has established four distribution centres in southern Gaza, including locations in the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp and the Netzarim Corridor. These centres are managed by U.S. contractors and secured by private U.S. owned security firms, with perimeter monitoring by the IDF. The foundation provides essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and shelter materials. However, it has faced criticism for potentially compromising humanitarian neutrality and safety, with incidents of violence near distribution sites prompting temporary closures.
False reporting on shootings
On June 4th, 2025, the White House condemned the BBC for allegedly accepting Hamas's version of events without critical evaluation. This criticism follows BBC reporting of Hamas death toll numbers before eventually retracting the story due to a lack of evidence, seemingly ignoring the efforts of Hamas to deliberately cause chaos at GHF-managed aid distribution sites. The Israeli military denied directly firing on civilians, stating instead that warning shots were issued.
The White House publicly criticised the BBC for its initial coverage of events in Gaza, accusing the outlet of uncritically disseminating casualty figures attributed to Hamas without sufficient independent verification. The criticism centred on the BBC’s early reporting of a purported Israeli attack on civilians at a GHF aid distribution site—coverage that was later retracted due to a lack of corroborating evidence. This reporting, according to U.S. officials, appeared to overlook documented efforts by Hamas to deliberately instigate chaos by provoking confrontations and causing fatalities at GHF-operated facilities. The IDF denied targeting civilians directly, stating that only warning shots were fired to disperse crowds perceived as a potential threat.
The International Community of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported a “mass casualty influx,” of 184 patients, including 19 who were declared dead upon arrival and 8 more who died from their wounds shortly after. The majority of the cases were gunshot wounds however the IDF stated that “findings from an initial inquiry indicate that the IDF did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false.”
U.S. support and commentary
Initially, the U.S. paused foreign aid programs under Executive Order 14169, signed by President Donald Trump on January 20th, 2025. This order suspended all foreign development assistance programs for 90 days to conduct a review, with exemptions for humanitarian programs providing life-saving assistance. Despite the broader aid freeze, the U.S. has supported the GHF initiative, with former Trump advisor Johnnie Moore appointed to lead the foundation. The U.S. has emphasised the importance of direct aid distribution to ensure resources reach civilians without interference from Hamas.
The United Nations has condemned the GHF plan, insisting “it is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday: “we continue to stress that a meaningful scale-up of humanitarian operations is essential to stave off famine and meet the needs of all civilians wherever they are.”
To what extent is GHF functioning?
On June 5th, 2025, aid distribution under the GHF initiative has still not resumed following a temporary suspension due to “maintenance and repair work”. The GHF maintains its centres in Gaza but will likely continue operations with heightened security measures, including identity checks and screening for involvement with Hamas, to ensure the safety of both aid recipients and personnel.
On June 6th, 2025, the GHF opened two aid distribution centres in Rafah, distributing 8,160 food boxes before earlier than scheduled closing due to dangerous overcrowding. GHF says each box has enough food inside to feed 5.5 people for 3.5 days. GHF emphasised in a statement that no violence occurred, with improved safety measures in pace.
On June 7th, 2025, the GHF was unable to open any sites, due to threats from Hamas.
On June 8th, 2025, one GHF distribution site was opened. GHF also briefed it “delivered 11 trucks’ worth of aid to community leaders for distribution in northern Rafah, as part of a pilot program that will see supplies delivered directly to Gazans, rather than forcing them to walk long distances and cross IDF lines in order to receive aid.” GHF is planning additional aid distribution sites in northern Gaza and has started to operate a “women and children only lane to ensure they receive aid.”
Ahead of the publication on this article it was announced by GHF that the Wadi Gaza and two Tel Sultan sites would be opening on June 9th, 2025.
Involvement of Palestinian clans working with the IDF
As Hamas fights for aid in order to retain control of Gaza, armed individuals affiliated with various Palestinian clans and political factions have begun providing security for humanitarian aid convoys in the Gaza Strip.
Reports suggest that the IDF and Shin Bet favour empowering local representatives, including those affiliated with traditional Palestinian clans, to temporarily administer Gaza. While formal details of this initiative have not yet been disclosed, preliminary indications suggest that the objective is to break Hamas capability in governing Gaza.
The UK Government’s position
The UK government has not endorsed the GHF, they have stated, “Israel must immediately allow the UN and aid partners to safely deliver all types of aid at scale” and across Gaza as opposed to the limited aid being distributed from specific aid distribution centres, under the GHF strategy. The UK Government position, as set out in their joint statement with France and Canada, is that the aid situation in Gaza puts Israel ‘at risk’ of breaking international law.
While the UK has significantly increased its humanitarian aid to Gaza, it had channelled this support through established agencies such as the UNRWA. For 2024/25 the UK Government committed £129 million:
June 2024: £15 million in aid for the Palestinian Authority, to be spent via the World Bank. This will pay public sector salaries, support essential services and fund anti-corruption and other reforms.
July 2024 and later in 2024: £9 million, for the charity UK-Med.
July 2024: £21 million for UNRWA.
August 2024: £6 million for UNICEF, in Gaza.
September 2024: Together with Kuwait a joint £4.5 million for UNICEF (covering UNICEF work in both Gaza and Yemen).
December 2024: £19 million for UNOCHA and the World Food Programme.
December 2024: an additional £13 million for UNRWA.
January 2025: an additional £17 million, including £2 million
In January 2024 UK Government said it had made all its planned contributions to UNRWA in the 2023/24 financial year (£35 million) before its decision to pause future funding. In July 2024 the UK Government announced the resumption of funding for UNRWA, however in October 2024 the Israeli Knesset passed legislation which effectively banned the operations of UNRWA from working in Gaza. The laws came into force on 31st, January 2025. The status of UK Government funds donated to UNRWA is currently unclear.
In recent weeks the UK Government has also given “£4m additional funding to support the British Red Cross, enabling the delivery humanitarian relief in Gaza through their partner the Palestinian Red Crescent.”