US aid plan will leave 40% of Gaza's population without food

In the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has persisted under an Israeli blockade for several weeks, a new U.S.-backed proposal has emerged to take over aid distribution. This plan, presented by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, aims to establish a centralized system for distributing food and supplies, which would replace the existing structure managed by the U.N. and other international organizations. Despite intentions to improve the situation, various aid agencies have expressed significant concerns, warning that such a system could exacerbate the dire conditions in Gaza by restricting access to aid and displacing vulnerable populations. Among the key components of the plan is the establishment of distribution centers secured by private contractors, meant to prevent Hamas from intercepting aid. However, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, acknowledged that the initial implementation would only cater to approximately 60% of Gaza’s population, raising questions about the fate of the remaining 40%. Humanitarian organizations argue that much of the hunger experienced in Gaza is due to the total blockade that limits humanitarian relief, rather than the actions of Hamas regarding aid distribution. Critics of the proposal have voiced that preventing access to aid based on political considerations runs the risk of weaponizing humanitarian efforts. The U.N. and other aid groups firmly reject any plans that appear to politicize aid, insisting that humanitarian interventions must adhere strictly to impartial and humanitarian principles. They have characterized the proposed shift to a private security-operated aid distribution model as potentially dangerous, with worries that it could lead to increased suffering and fatalities among the Palestinian population. The situation remains critical, with U.N. officials warning of an imminent mass starvation scenario unless Israel relaxes its blockade. As evacuations and relocations of individuals living further from new distribution centers become likely, there is a fear that children, the elderly, and those with health issues will disproportionately suffer. Humanitarian groups stress the need for an immediate and comprehensive approach to aid distribution that ensures all of Gaza’s population can access essential supplies without this logistical and political complexity.