Limited trust surrounding US Gaza mission's comprehensive view
The visit of Trump's envoy to Gaza was an important gesture to demonstrate America's concern for the humanitarian situation there. However, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the new entity tasked with distributing aid, has been embroiled in controversy since its launch in May.
According to reports, the GHF operates in areas close to conflict zones, and Palestinians are getting killed and injured attempting to reach aid at its distribution sites. The American delegation, which spent around five hours in Gaza, aimed to help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.
The UN has decades of experience in distributing aid in Gaza, but America is still backing the GHF model run by inexperienced armed security contractors. This decision has raised concerns, with very little confidence in the objectives of the visit.
The video player, accessible through the Chrome browser, offers a glimpse into the aid site in Gaza. However, images do not suggest a full picture of the humanitarian crisis will be presented to Donald Trump.
The GHF has been delivering food aid amid an 11-week Israeli blockade on humanitarian assistance. Initially, the foundation distributed about 8,000 food boxes on its first day, feeding roughly 44,000 people for half a week, covering only around 2% of Gaza’s population. By mid-June, its daily distribution reportedly reached 2.6 million meals, with calorie content per meal adjusted from 1,750 to 2,500 calories, above the WHO emergency standard of 2,100 calories per day.
Despite these efforts, experts estimate that GHF coverage meets less than half of Gaza’s nutritional needs. The foundation's centers are located within evacuation zones, with very limited opening times and access that is tightly controlled and sporadically announced to the public, restricting aid accessibility.
Regarding the effectiveness of the GHF, there have been reports of deaths due to hunger in Gaza, according to people in Gaza and a UN-backed authority on food crises. The UN has reported the "worst case scenario of famine" is now playing out in Gaza.
Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador, stated that the GHF delivers more than one million meals a day after visiting site 3 with Trump's envoy. The American delegation will report their assessments back to Washington.
As a new plan for Gaza is being formed between the US and Israel, it does not instill a huge amount of confidence. Going to aid sites in Gaza is a last resort for many due to fear, but food is now so scarce for many there is little choice. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, and the international community must act swiftly to alleviate the suffering of its people.
[1] Al Jazeera, "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: The new way of distributing food in Gaza by America and Israel," 26 May 2025. [2] Middle East Eye, "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: America's flawed plan to deliver aid," 10 June 2025. [3] Human Rights Watch, "Deadly Deliveries: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the Israeli Military's Use of Lethal Force Against Palestinians Seeking Aid," 15 July 2025. [4] The New York Times, "Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as Aid Distribution Sites Become Flashpoints of Violence," 20 July 2025. [5] The Washington Post, "US Funding for Gaza Aid Sparks Controversy and Criticism," 25 June 2025.
- The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by the implementation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's aid distribution strategy, leading to concerns about the effectiveness and safety of the war-and-conflicts-ridden region.
- The distribution of aid by the GHF, a new entity funded by America and Israel, has been fraught with controversies, with reports suggesting deaths due to hunger, limited accessibility, and clashes between Palestinians and security forces at aid sites, raising questions about the role of politics and crime-and-justice in these incidents.
- As the international community grapples with the deteriorating general-news situation in Gaza, attention is also being drawn to the conflict zones in which the GHF operates and the potential consequences of political decisions on the distribution of aid in these war-prone areas.
