WP: Private interests, humanitarian aims collide in Gaza aid effort backed by US, Israel

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed initiative, has become the central distributor of food aid inside war-torn Gaza.

Touted as a response to the growing humanitarian crisis, the foundation has drawn criticism from aid organisations and foreign governments who question both its motives and execution, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Washington Post.

Established by a network of U.S. and Israeli private sector figures, the GHF operates under a nonprofit framework, yet is closely tied to for-profit interests. 

Key roles in the aid operation have been filled by private equity firm McNally Capital and its subsidiaries, including security and logistics contractor Safe Reach Solutions (SRS). Documents reviewed by The Washington Post reveal that several private firms expect to profit from long-term contracts linked to GHF operations.

Since its launch in May, the GHF claims to have delivered over 80 million meals, targeting an increasingly desperate population. However, the effort has been marred by deadly incidents near distribution sites, including shootings and stampedes that have claimed scores of lives.

Most recently, 20 Palestinians died in a crowd crush that GHF attributed to armed interference by Hamas. Aid groups, however, say the militarised nature of the aid system itself puts civilians at risk.

Critics, including the United Nations and 21 Western governments, have condemned the aid distribution model as selective and unsafe. They argue that it forces Palestinians to risk their lives for food, while undermining the long-standing UN-led humanitarian system.

In contrast, Israel defends the GHF model, claiming the previous UN-coordinated system had been exploited by Hamas.

The Biden administration, though initially sceptical, has not directly opposed the initiative. A $30 million U.S. contribution was announced in June, while officials linked to former President Trump have taken an active role in advancing the programme.

Trump himself has promoted the GHF as part of a wider plan for postwar Gaza, including redevelopment and potential relocation schemes — details of which remain largely opaque.

GHF’s founding involved former U.S. intelligence and military figures, including individuals affiliated with Orbis Operations, a security consultancy. The organisation's leadership has already seen high-profile resignations, including executive director Jake Wood, who stepped down just before the programme’s official launch, citing concerns over neutrality and safety.

The scale of the project has fallen short of original ambitions. Fewer than 80 aid trucks enter Gaza daily, far below the planned 300. Meanwhile, financial shortfalls, ongoing fighting, and logistical obstacles have stalled the construction of new distribution sites. Volunteers, including Palestinian workers, face threats from Hamas, limited pay, and poor working conditions.

With GHF contracts set to expire at the end of August, and ceasefire negotiations ongoing, the future of aid delivery in Gaza remains uncertain. While GHF insists it is committed to scaling operations and cooperating with other humanitarian actors, many in the aid community remain deeply wary.

The core question persists: can a privately backed, politically contentious operation like GHF meet the urgent needs of Gaza’s civilians — or does it risk becoming another tool of conflict in a deeply divided landscape?

By Aghakazim Guliyev