**New Aid Organization Backed by Israel and US Begins Work in Gaza**
A new aid distribution organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has started working in Gaza. The non-profit group is backed by Israel and the US, but its methods have been met with criticism from experts and other aid organizations.
According to GHF, lorry loads of food have been delivered to secure sites for distribution. However, the exact locations and amount of food distributed are not specified. This new organization wants to bypass the UN and become the main provider of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza.
Experts warn that an imminent famine is looming due to the 11-week Israeli blockade. The UN and many other aid organizations have refused to cooperate with GHF’s plan, saying it contradicts humanitarian principles and seems to “weaponize” aid.
**Israel Seeks New System to Prevent Hamas from Stealing Aid**
Israel says a new system is needed to stop Hamas from stealing aid. However, the group denies this claim. The Israeli government claims that its actions are intended to put pressure on armed groups to release hostages in Gaza.
The UN and other aid agencies have expressed concerns that GHF’s system would exclude people with mobility issues, including those with disabilities, injuries, and the elderly. They also warn that it would force further displacements and expose thousands to harm.
**Criticism from Aid Agencies and Hamas**
UN and other aid agencies insist they will not cooperate with any scheme that fails to respect basic humanitarian principles. They have said they have thousands of trucks waiting to enter Gaza and a detailed strategy to ensure aid reaches those in need while minimizing looting.
Hamas has also warned Palestinians against cooperating with GHF, saying it would “replace order with chaos” and enforce a policy of engineered starvation for Palestinian civilians.
**The Impact of the Israeli Blockade**
Israel imposed an absolute blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza starting on 2 March. Two weeks later, it resumed its offensive, ending a two-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The Israeli military launched a massive offensive on 19 May, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming that troops would “take control of every area” in Gaza.
Since then, Israeli authorities claim they have allowed 665 lorry-loads of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including flour and baby food. However, the head of the UN World Food Programme warned that this is only a “drop in the bucket” compared to what is needed on the ground to reverse devastating levels of hunger in the region.
According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, half a million people will starve in the next few months. At least 53,977 Palestinians have died in Gaza since Israel’s campaign began in response to Hamas’s attack across the border on 7 October 2023.
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