U.S. Greenlights $30 Million for Controversial Gaza Humanitarian Initiative

The newly sanctioned Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aims to distribute aid amid growing concerns of safety and military presence at distribution sites.

The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday that it has allocated $30 million to support a new aid distribution initiative in Gaza, specifically the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is supported by Israel and primarily operated by American contractors. This funding follows a series of violent incidents that have occurred in proximity to these newly established distribution points.

At a news conference, State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott hailed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as “incredible” and urged other nations to contribute to its efforts. This marks the U.S.’s first public financial commitment to the foundation, although it remains unclear if the funds have already been disbursed.

Humanitarian organizations are sounding alarms regarding the distribution system, which began operations last month. Currently, only a handful of distribution sites are available, predominantly located in southern Gaza, where Israeli troops are stationed. Aid workers express concerns that the setup jeopardizes the safety of residents and militarizes the process of humanitarian aid.

Frequent violent outbreaks have occurred as thousands flock to these distribution sites seeking food and supplies. According to the Gaza health ministry, recent weeks have seen hundreds of fatalities near the aid hubs. Eyewitness accounts indicate that Israeli soldiers have opened fire in the vicinity when individuals approached aggressively, while the Israeli military claims it has used “warning shots” to control crowd behavior.