The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-backed initiative set to launch aid deliveries in Gaza, faces significant hurdles after its executive director, Jake Wood, resigned abruptly.
His departure coincides with mounting international outcry over Israel’s ongoing military operations, including an airstrike on a school shelter that killed dozens of Palestinians, which Germany has deemed unjustifiable in the context of Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
Wood announced his resignation on Sunday, citing the foundation’s inability to adhere to “the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon.”
The GHF, which operates with private contractors under Israeli security oversight, has been boycotted by the United Nations and major aid groups.
Critics argue its structure undermines impartial aid distribution and risks worsening Gaza’s already dire humanitarian situation.
Despite the setback, GHF plans to begin distributing food, medicine, and supplies on Monday, targeting one million Palestinians by the end of the week.
“We plan to scale up rapidly to serve the full population in the weeks ahead,” the foundation stated.
The operation will rely on four southern Gaza distribution centers, using screening methods like facial recognition to block aid from reaching Hamas, according to aid officials.
Yet, unclear operational details have raised concerns about accessibility and safety for civilians.
Gaza’s genocide has deepened with Israel’s near-total blockade and intensified military campaign, leaving 1.95 million people — 93% of the population — facing acute food insecurity, per the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report.
Aid agencies have accused Israel of weaponizing starvation, a charge echoed by Hamas, which condemned GHF’s system as one that would “replace order with chaos, enforce a policy of engineered starvation of Palestinian civilians, and use food as a weapon during wartime.”
The UN has warned that GHF’s centralized aid points could endanger civilians and limit access, potentially forcing displacement to southern Gaza.
Robert Patman, a professor at the University of Otago, told Al Jazeera, “It’s no secret that major aid donors had not been convinced by this proposal, which is essentially a start-up.”
He stressed that lifting Israel’s blockade is essential to address the crisis.
While the U.S. State Department and GHF’s board remain supportive, Wood’s exit and widespread criticism cast doubt on the initiative’s ability to deliver effective aid.