Israel commits $30 million to Gaza relief, matching US contribution under Trump plan

Senior officials from the Trump administration informed US lawmakers earlier this month that Israel has pledged to match Washington’s $30 million grant to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), two sources with direct knowledge of the briefings told Reuters.

The Israeli contribution, which has not been previously reported, adds to the funding behind a contentious private humanitarian operation in Gaza.

While the State Department publicly announced the US funding in June, the broader sources of GHF’s financial support remain largely undisclosed, as the organisation does not release the identities of its donors.

Israel’s support for GHF has come under scrutiny amid mounting international criticism over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Aid organisations and United Nations officials have described the operation as both ineffective and dangerous, in part because it operates only in the southern part of the enclave. GHF has denied these accusations.

Aryeh Lightstone and Charles Leith — both aides to Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for Middle East reconstruction — briefed members of the Senate and House committees on July 8 and 9, the sources said. During those meetings, they reported that Israel had agreed to match the US funding, providing another $30 million to support GHF’s activities through the end of July.

Lightstone and Leith did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. The White House referred inquiries to the State Department, which also did not respond. Likewise, the Israeli government declined to comment.

On Monday, President Donald Trump stated that the US had provided $60 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza. However, the State Department has not issued any updates beyond the original $30 million announced in June. A third source familiar with the matter said some US officials believe Trump may have combined both the US and Israeli contributions in his figure.

According to the sources, Lightstone and Leith told lawmakers that they hoped GHF’s performance would attract new donors in August, which could enable the foundation to expand its reach from four to eight distribution points in Gaza.

It remains unclear whether Israel has actually transferred the pledged $30 million to GHF. The foundation uses private, for-profit US defence and logistics companies to deliver aid into Gaza, where it is then distributed at its existing sites.

During a speech on July 30 at the Hudson Institute, GHF Executive Chairman Rev. Dr. Johnnie Moore, who previously served as an evangelical adviser to the Trump White House, stressed that the foundation, as a private American charity, is not obligated to reveal its donor base. Moore also acknowledged the financial challenges facing the effort. “The biggest problem is just we need more of it, and $30 million is not going to get it done,” he said, apparently referencing the US funding.

In an email to Reuters, GHF said it is focused on delivering as much food as safely possible and continues to urge Israeli authorities to allow the opening of additional distribution centres, including in northern Gaza. The organisation declined to comment on its donors or financial backers.

By Tamilla Hasanova