GAZa, May 09 (AP): The United States has said a new foundation is being established to coordinate aid deliveries to Gaza amid Israel's two-month blockade.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters on Friday that Israel would not be involved in distributing aid in the enclave but would provide security for the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The plan for the "charitable" and "non-governmental" initiative was announced on Thursday by State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. Although few details were revealed, it appears part of a US-Israeli push to take over the distribution of aid to prevent it from being diverted by Hamas and other groups.
The AP news agency reported that the newly created GHF had issued a proposal to implement a new aid distribution system, supplanting the current one run by the United Nations and other international aid agencies. Reports claim that under the proposal, private contractors will be used to secure hubs where Palestinians will be required to gather to collect supplies. Israel, which has halted the entry of all aid to Gaza since March 2, deepening the humanitarian crisis, has previously said it will not relax the blockade until a system is in place that gives it control over the distribution, insisting that supplies are used to support Hamas.
The intention to sideline the United Nations has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian organisations, and it is unclear if the GHF proposal will ease those concerns.
Bruce promised further announcements regarding the proposal would follow soon. "I was hoping to introduce it today, but the foundation will be announcing this shortly," she said.
The former executive director of the UN World Food Programme David Beasley is in talks with the US, Israel and other key players to head the GHF, reported US outlet Axis, quoting unnamed sources.
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