A group of Democratic senators, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, is pressing the Trump administration to halt financial support for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a food distribution organization linked to Israel that has faced intense scrutiny for its operations.
In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the 21 senators raised serious concerns about the American financial involvement in the GHF, imploring the administration to immediately cease U.S. funding and shift back to utilizing the United Nations’ established humanitarian channels for aid distribution in Gaza.
The GHF was brought in as an alternative to the U.N., which has a long-standing presence and extensive network of humanitarian workers in the region. The U.S. and Israel have criticized the U.N. for alleged bias and collaboration with Hamas, prompting the establishment of the GHF.
The senators focused on a recent $30 million pledge from the State Department to GHF, emphasizing their alarm over how this money would be spent and the potential for bypassing oversight mechanisms typically required for USAID funding.
In the letter, which highlights the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, Van Hollen expressed, “American taxpayers should not be spending one penny to fund this private organization backed by mercenaries and by the IDF that has become a death trap,” reflecting on the number of Gazans killed while attempting to access food at GHF distribution sites.
Recent U.N. reports indicate that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with countless Palestinians at increasing risk of starvation amid a prolonged Israeli blockade. Though the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assert that no starvation exists, the situation on the ground tells a different story.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot weighed in on the escalating crisis, stating that Gaza stands on the brink of a food catastrophe and urging the Israeli government to halt GHF operations that have led to severe humanitarian consequences.
As reported by U.N. Secretary General António Guterres, over a thousand Palestinians have died attempting to gain access to food since late May, with 766 fatalities linked to efforts to reach GHF distribution points. A spokesperson from UNICEF has echoed these concerns, signaling a dire shortage of life-saving therapeutic food for malnourished children due to delays in aid delivery.
The group of senators is seeking clarity about the administration’s decisions regarding the GHF’s funding process. Their inquiries include whether the usual requirement for a thorough audit has been overridden, which would typically apply to new USAID beneficiaries, and who within the administration authorized the bypassing of these protocols.
The ongoing conflict has drawn widespread international criticism, prompting calls from global leaders for urgent humanitarian action. Recent developments saw the IDF initiating airdrops of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, although critics, including the U.N., labeled these efforts as wholly inadequate.
In light of these events, UNICEF has warned that without an increase in aid, they will run out of essential resources needed to treat acutely malnourished children by mid-August, a grim deadline for vulnerable populations in Gaza. UNICEF’s spokesperson, Salim Oweis, conveyed the urgency of the situation and the detrimental impact of lack of access to proper care.
GHF claims to have distributed over 91 million meals to Gazans, yet reports of violence at distribution hubs pose immense risks to civilians. US Army veteran Anthony Aguilar, a former GHF contractor, described serious abuses, stating he witnessed instances of the IDF firing into crowds, which he decried as excessive and brutal.
The GHF countered Aguilar’s allegations, labeling his claims as materially false and asserting that he was let go due to misconduct. Conflict over responsibility for the humanitarian situation has led to blame-shifting between GHF and U.N. agencies.
As international leaders express their outrage over the catastrophic conditions in Gaza, discussions on how best to proceed with humanitarian aid continue. The recent, coordinated telephone conversations between European leaders underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire and the removal of restrictions on aid delivery.
Despite the calls for action, the approval from the Israeli military for necessary aid transport has been slow, further complicating efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering in the region. As the situation unfolds, the attention of lawmakers and global authorities remains fixed on finding an urgently needed resolution to the crisis gripping Gaza.
image source from：cbsnews
