Israel may alter its strategy to permit aid organizations in Gaza to continue to provide non-food aid ( Photo: AP ).
Israel appears to be changing its stance as pressure mounts to bring more aid into Gaza, and it may allow aid organizations operating in the damaged area to continue providing non-food support while transferring food supply to a previously established US-backed team, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press. The growth suggests that Israel may become reversing its plans to rig all help to Gaza and stop aid organizations already established in the area from delivering it in the same way they have in the past. Hamas is accused of siphoning off support by Israel, but the UN and aid organizations refute this claim and say there is a major diversion. Israel’s plan, which the U.N. has rejected, is alleged to violate individual humanitarian principles and didn’t work. For nearly three months, Israel had been preventing all other materials, including food, gas, medication, and other supplies, entering Gaza, worsening a humanitarian crisis there for the 2.3 million Palestinians. Experts have warned of a higher risk of famine, and global outcry and anger over Israel’s unpleasant has gotten worse. Perhaps a steadfast ally, the United States has expressed concern about the issue of hunger. The letter, which is addressed to COGAT, the Jewish military organization in charge of transferring support to the country, is from Jake Wood, the mind of the Israel-approved Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF. According to the statement, Israel and GHF have ratified an agreement that allows the handling and distribution of non-food humanitarian assistance, including everything from medical supplies to health products and house materials, under an existing program, which is led by the UN. The bulk of the support going to Gaza has so far been provided by U.N. companies. The email stated that although the base would continue to have control over food distribution, there would occasionally overlap with aid organizations. GHF acknowledges that we do not have the technical resources or niche network to handle these distributions freely, and that we fully support the management of these well-established players in this area. The base verified the letter’s sincerity. The deal with Israel was reached, according to a GHF official who stated this after much advocacy. GHF will continue to support an growth of aid into Gaza and permit aid groups ‘ work in the area, despite acknowledging that some support organizations are still opposed to the program. Funders directed the AP to Benjamin Netanyahu’s company, which did not respond to a request for comment, and directed the text. Additionally, UN representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Vague who is funding GHF The organization, which is currently operating in Gaza, is funded by security companies, former military personnel, and humanitarian assistance workers, and has Israel’s support. The organization claims that it intends to use armed private contractors to guard the distribution of food aid, immediately from a few distribution centers in southern and central Gaza. Within a fortnight, more locations, including those in northern Gaza, will open. According to the letter, aid organizations will continue to provide food aid in addition to the GHF until at least eight places are operational. Support organizations have been criticizing Israel’s and GHF’s plans to handle food aid, saying it may force many Palestinians to flee to the distribution centers and that the foundation is unable to meet the needs of the Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, it’s unclear who is funding the GHF, which claims to have received more than$ 100 million in contributions from a foreign government donor but hasn’t named the donor. The email lists GHF’s Wood on a visit with the Directors of six help organizations to discuss the new ideas, including Save the Children, International Medical Corps, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Care, and Project HOPE. The organization’s leader, Project HOPE, Ricardo Torbay, confirmed the phone and stated that the current system may allow for the continued delivery of medicines and various non-food items. Torbay continued to make an appeal for “politicalization or obstruction” of foods help entering Gaza. The letter, according to Mairav Zonszein, a senior researcher on Israel for the International Crisis Group, is a clear indication that both Israel and the GHF are aware of the humanitarian crisis people in Gaza face and the need for instant help. Zonszein remarked that” the GHF and Israel are evidently scrambling to get something that works, or at least the appearance of functioning help,” and that this method is insufficiently equipped, or adapted to meet the needs of the people in Gaza. The Norwegian Refugee Council’s Middle East director, Ahmed Bayram, claimed that Israel should not be in charge of the transmission of help. According to Bayram, “any interference by Israel in any or all of that process may harm the impartiality and liberation of humanitarian aid.” Humanitarian principles The GHF was brought under closer investigation this week when TRIAL International, a Geneva-based advocacy group focused on global justice, announced Friday that it was suing Switzerland to demand that Swiss authorities follow suit. The foundation’s director has argued that it operates independently and is subject to Israeli power. The spokesperson, who declined to comment on the foundation’s policy, earlier this week stated to the AP that the operation is no defense and that its military security personnel are required to be active in Gaza. On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led insurgents launched a military conflict in Gaza, causing the deaths of 1, 200 people and 251 individuals to be taken from them. More than 53, 000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s hostile rude, according to Gaza’s health department, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its matter.
