US confirms plan for private firms to deliver Gaza aid despite UN alarm

[Twiglets1]

The US has confirmed that a new system for providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza through private companies is being prepared, as Israel's blockade continues for a third month.

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said "distribution centres" protected by security contractors would provide food and other supplies to over a million people initially, as part of an effort to prevent Hamas stealing aid.

He denied Israel would take part in aid delivery or distribution, but said its forces would secure the centres' perimeters.

It comes as details emerged about the controversial plan, which UN agencies have reiterated they will not co-operate with because it appears to "weaponize" aid.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp92rlm300mo

The newly registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) appears to have been set up for this purpose. A 14-page document from GHF, seen by the BBC, promises to set up four distribution sites, giving out food, water and hygiene kits initially for 1.2 million people - less than 60% of the population. It says the project aims to reach all Gazans eventually.

Aimed at potential donors, the paper states that "months of conflict have collapsed traditional relief channels in Gaza". It goes on: "GHF was established to restore that vital lifeline through an independent, rigorously-audited model that gets assistance directly - and only - to those in need."

The document maintains that GHF is "guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence".

Its boards of directors and advisors are said to include a former chief executive of World Central Kitchen, along with the American former head of the UN's World Food Programme, David Beasley - though his participation is not yet confirmed.

Full details of how the aid mechanism will work on the ground are not given.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp92rlm300mo

Shocking that there is life saving aid already beside the border waiting to enter Gaza. I assume they’ll push ahead with this despite opposition from the UN & internationally.

It seems like this is a key part of their plan to occupy Gaza.

I struggle to see supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza as anything but a good thing whoever delivers it.

I think it’s a valid concern that previously a lot of aid has been stolen by Hamas so they want to find a method that prevents that happening again.

Hamas leaders have got very rich in the past from diverting international aid to themselves rather than the civilian population it was designed for. The local population have remained poor over the years because Hamas leaders have spent much of it on building tunnels/buying weapons /living lavish lifestyles.

I don’t agree that the Israel government ever should have blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. But I’m relieved there is a plan now to reintroduce aid even if the UN don’t like the method.

Private American security firms will be allowed to go into Gaza and deliver aid?

Anyone else getting a sense of Deja vu with what happened in Iraq, especially the rape and torture carried out by these so called security firms.

And seeing as they are private businesses, directed by Israel, who is going to ensure they act fairly and legally?

Just another weapon to beat the Palestinians with. This actually worries me a lot.

Does it worry you more than no aid getting into Gaza?

Because those are the 2 options on the table.

Israel & America are not going to allow Hamas to get access to the humanitarian aid.

Shocking and wrong on so many levels. I gess Israel will get what it wants in the end with the help of big brother America.

It's a difficult one. But Israel should have never been allowed to stop the aid going into Gaza in the first place.

No, I have no solutions, my brain is too small for such big issues. Other than cutting Israel off from weapons and ammunition deliveries ....

I wouldn't trust America or Israel as far as I could fucking throw them when it comes to how Palestinians are treated.

@SummerIce Just to note in that article they seem to have pivoted from the idea of private firms and are instead proposing creating their own NGO. The rest of your post still applies.

@Twiglets1 You may think that any aid is better than no aid but the problem is that Israeli (and the US) are high jacking aid distribution to use as a tool to control the population. That’s why the plan is being condemned by aid agencies, the UN and many international governments.

Also the plan aims for 60 trucks a day - which is a 10th of what was delivered during the ceasefire. Sounds like putting a bandaid on a broken leg - utterly pointless.

I have similar concerns, the UAE and the UN have said they will not partake in this so how will it work?

I don't think this has been thought out and these are certainly not the only two options.

@Odras I read this current plan as contentious as it is will still only feed up to 60% of the population at most, the remaining will continue to starve.

"I struggle to see getting aid into Gaza as anything but a good thing whoever delivers it"

This. If it stops hamas stealing it and selling on to gain funds for their own aims then great.

Kind of makes you wonder if it's about feeding Palestinian people or not.

@Whatsinanamehey Well they say they will feed 60% of the population but the goal is to only deliver 60 trunks a day when I recall Gaze needing 600 trunks a day. So that is questionable.

But even if they were aiming to deliver a full amount of aid there would be the same amount of criticism. Aid should be delivered according to certain principles. This aid organisation seems to lack independence as it will be controlled by a government and it is also seems to have the goal of moving the Palestinian population into an area in the south- so about displacement and bringing the population to a certain area rather than humanitarianism.

I know Israel never should have stopped the aid getting into Gaza in the first place but we are where we are. So for me it is clear that aid getting into Gaza is a higher priority than arguing about who delivers it.

Well it’s not about feeding people. The goal is displacement and the aid is insufficient.

From the second link I posted:

A 14-page document from GHF, seen by the BBC, promises to set up four distribution sites, giving out food, water and hygiene kits initially for 1.2 million people - less than 60% of the population. It says the project aims to reach all Gazans eventually.

I don't think the aid is "utterly pointless" and doubt the people receiving it will think it is utterly pointless if it feeds them and their children.

It isn't sufficient amounts to start with but again, the eventual aim is to reach all Gazans eventually.

It's a strange situation where people are saying they are against the aid being delivered but also that there isn't enough of it.

@Twiglets1 I think there is a bigger picture actually. If the world allows Israel use aid as a tool for ethnic cleansing basically, it would set a dangerous precedent. This is a plan to do evil. It will not ultimately make lives better. It doesn’t aim to save lives: its goal is control. There is aid piled up at the border and the means to distribute it are already in place.

It has already been explained why the aid piled up at the border is not being distributed - it's because Hamas have been intercepting international aid and using it for their own benefit.

A way has to be found to provide aid without Hamas getting hold of it. Do you agree with that?

Israel have been completely wrong to stop aid - this is both morally wrong and against international law. The “but Hamas” excuse is no excuse for what they have done which is essentially used the basics of life as a weapon.

I think they should listen to aid agencies and the UN who are saying that there was very little looting of aid when there was full deliveries of it during the ceasefire.

Of course Israel has dismissed all of these aid agencies and the UN as anti semitic. It already won’t allow journalists. Now there will be no aid agencies on the ground. Nobody to speak out basically. I can guarantee you this plan won’t save any lives.

I note that you choose not to answer the question of whether you agree that a way has to be found to provide aid without Hamas getting hold of it.

The plan obviously will save lives if it saves people from starvation which apparently is a real possibility in Gaza.

I actually can't be bothered to debate with people who can't bring themselves to say anything negative about Hamas... if you won't admit they can't be allowed to keep taking the humanitarian aid then I have to assume you support them.

I have no problem saying that Hamas shouldn’t be looting aid. I think they are a terrorist group. In fact from reading the news there seems to be a few armed militia in Gaza. And also lone actors looting out of desperation.

I pointed out in my last post at NGO’s said there was little looting when there was full aid delivery. So that seems to be answer ?

From an article in The Guardian dated November 24:

Aid officials recount violent looting in Gaza as criminal gangs thrive amid Israeli bombardment

Aid officials and witnesses have described the chaotic and violent moments when a huge convoy carrying enough flour to bake bread for two-thirds of the population of Gaza for a week was looted this month.

The officials made clear the attack was undertaken by groups of criminals, not civilians who were now being deprived of food in a territory close to famine.

The attack on 17 November was the most serious after months of escalating violence directed at aid convoys in Gaza, where experts have warned of imminent famine. The UN estimates a third or more of its aid entering Gaza is looted.

One official said: “It is organised crime on a massive scale. They are taking supplies paid for by member states. It is another horrendous consequence of the war and it is an utter disgrace that things have been allowed to get this bad.”

Some sources described hundreds of gunmen armed with assault rifles attacking in almost total darkness, firing in the air or towards trucks, beating or threatening drivers, and then forcing to drive their trucks to pre-prepared bases equipped with forklift trucks where they were ordered to unload their cargo.

Aid officials said the attack marked a “huge step change” in scale and ambition. Gangs have made huge sums in recent months through stealing and stockpiling aid. The price of basics in Gaza has soared as deliveries have declined sharply. Every truck looted on 17 November carried more than 400 desperately needed bags of wheat flour, each worth $100 on markets in Gaza.

Israeli officials claim most looting is by Hamas, which has ruled in Gaza since 2007. “I’m sorry, it’s not looters. It’s Hamas people … They are working in a very systematic way,” said Avi Dichter, the minister for food security and a member of Israel’s security cabinet. The Israeli military says it has targeted looters in Gaza.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/aid-officials-recount-violent-looting-in-gaza-as-criminal-gangs-thrive-amid-israeli-bombardment

@Twiglets1 who do you think will pay the American security companies -Israel or America (not a sarky or rhetorical question just something that genuinely popped into my head)

I don’t know how it is all being funded @Martymcfly24

Lots of detail is missing at the moment but I believe more details will be announced over the next few days.