Skip the Hamas Game: Israel Backs US Plan for Gaza Aid Direct Delivery
Israel's foreign minister endorses American proposal for restructuring assistance to Gaza.
Israel leans on a US initiative for restructuring humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, bypassing Hamas, according to Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. At a press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) on Sunday, Saar voiced his unwavering support for the US Ambassador Mike Huckabee's proposal unveiled on Friday. The proposal aims to deliver aid directly to Gaza's people, avoiding Hamas.
Saar charged Hamas, the radical Islamic Palestinian group, with pilfering aid and deploying it for their military machine. Despite allowing humanitarian aid flow during Gaza conflicts, Israel alleges Hamas swiped aid from the public, Saar stated. Perfecting humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza is vital to put an end to the jolt, Saar added.
The US State Department announced a private foundation to manage aid distribution in Gaza Strip on Thursday. Huckabee revealed on Friday that this plan would not necessitate the Israeli army's direct involvement in aid dispensation. Israel will only furnish military security for food distribution, Huckabee claimed in Jerusalem. Predictably, the plan has sparked international criticism for disregarding the UN and aid organizations in Gaza.
Wadephul congratulated Israel for backing the new aid blueprint during his meeting with Saar. "Should this route provide sufficient aid, the German federal government is on board," Wadephul said, promising a talk with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Berlin on Tuesday. "For 70 days, no humanitarian aid has entered Gaza. The humanitarian situation is worsening day by day. And it's evident that Hamas misappropriates and hoards humanitarian aid," Wadephul pointed out. "It's understandable that the Israeli government seeks alternatives to sidestep Hamas."
Wadephul also advocated for fresh ceasefire discussions in the Gaza Strip. A ceasefire could foster a long-term supply of aid to Gaza's people. Israel has blocked humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza since early March. At the end of April, World Food Programme depleted its food stocks in Palestinian territory. Aid bodies warn of a looming humanitarian disaster.
Behind the Scenes:
- The Plan's Core: The plan centers on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—founded in January. The GHF is developing a new system to regulate aid distribution through private American security contractors overseeing aid hubs within a humanitarian zone in Gaza[1].
- Access Points: The GHF plan permits around 5,000 to 6,000 vehemently scrutinized intermediaries to traverse the aid hubs on biweekly foot journeys. Each medium-sized aid parcel, estimated at 40 pounds, is for their families[1].
- Transportation: Aids will be shipped through 60 trucks per day at one entrance. However, critics claim this is deficient for tackling Gaza's dire humanitarian emergencies[1].
International Clamor:
The international community, including humanitarian organizations, has voiced concerns and skepticism over the plan:
- Reservations: Skepticism runs high, with organizations doubting the plan effectively addresses Gaza's humanitarian crisis. They fear undue involvement in what they perceive as the weaponization of aid by Israel[1].
- White House Leverage: The Trump administration exerts pressure on international aid groups to collaborate, hinting that US funding could be slashed should they not comply. This message has reached groups like the World Food Program[1].
- Delivery Concerns: Critics question plan efficiency and its capacity to cater to the Gazan populace's needs. They raise concerns about insufficient daily truck entries, which might delay malnutrition prevention[1].
State Department Response:
The US State Department has neither denied nor addressed being forceful with aid groups. Instead, they stress the need for innovative solutions to guarantee aid reaches Gaza without terrorist interference[1].
The Bigger Picture:
The international community's reaction mirrors broader concerns about humanitarian aid politicization and the potential exacerbation of crises rather than their resolution. Gaza's humanitarian situation and the plan's influence on it remain uncertain.
- The US Ambassador Mike Huckabee's proposal aims to restructure humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, bypassing Hamas, as supported by Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, aligning with the US's plan to deliver aid directly to Gaza's people.
- The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), overseen by private American security contractors, is instrumental in the new aid distribution system, regulating aid flow through humanitarian zones in Gaza.
- The international community, including humanitarian organizations, have expressed reservations about the plan, asserting that it may unduly involve them in perceived aid weaponization by Israel and could potentially exacerbate Gaza's humanitarian crisis.
- The US State Department has emphasized the need for innovative solutions to ensure aid reaches Gaza without terrorist interference, but has yet to address allegations of allegedly coercing aid groups to collaborate with the plan.
