WASHINGTON — The U.S. government under the Trump administration has approved the allocation of $30 million to support a food distribution initiative in Gaza, backed by both U.S. and Israeli interests. An American official announced this financial aid on Tuesday, though the program has received criticism from various humanitarian organizations.
This marks the first governmental funding directed towards the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid efforts in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The request was initially submitted to the U.S. Agency for International Development, an entity that is soon to be absorbed into the State Department due to significant cuts in foreign aid prompted by the administration.
This development is part of a larger trend where private contracting firms, often led by individuals with a background in U.S. military and intelligence services, are engaged in providing aid within conflict zones. These operations are organized in conjunction with governments involved in such conflicts.
The unnamed official, citing diplomatic sensitivities around the controversial aid initiative, stated that the funding decision aims “to provide effective and accessible humanitarian support to the people of Gaza.”
The decision comes amid reports of violence surrounding newly established food distribution centers which opened recently. While the GHF disputes reports of violence near its locations, claiming it has successfully distributed approximately 44 million meals to needy Palestinians, Palestinian eyewitnesses and health officials report that Israeli forceful interventions at food sites have resulted in hundreds of fatalities.
Eyewitness accounts suggest Israeli soldiers fired at crowds attempting to access a distribution point in southern Gaza on Tuesday, resulting in at least 19 deaths and 50 injuries as reported by local medical sources. The Israeli military has yet to comment.
Israel aims for the GHF to replace existing aid systems coordinated by the United Nations and global humanitarian actors. Both the U.S. and Israeli authorities claim, without substantiated evidence, that Hamas diverts incoming aid supplies. Representatives from the United Nations and partner organizations working on the ground refute these claims, asserting no significant theft.
Crisis experts and aid agencies, including the U.N., have long flagged the alarming levels of hunger experienced by Gaza’s 2 million residents. Although Israel has recently relaxed its restrictions on essential supplies to the region, the U.N. highlights that the delivered aid remains limited, describing the current provisions as insufficient to avert widespread famine.
The decision made by the Trump administration has been met with criticism, notably from Oxfam America. They condemned the U.S. and Israeli-supported aid operation as a significant “distraction from the true causes — and necessary solutions — to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis,” potentially endangering its recipients.
According to recent reports, the American-led consortium has requested funding to continue with their existing operation, which has faced backlash from the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations. These critics argue that the foundation’s coordination with Israeli agendas during the protracted conflict with Hamas undermines humanitarian norms.
In a briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that there was no additional information available regarding funding allocations to the GHF.