After UN and other international aid agencies rejected last week’s Israeli proposal to replace the aid distribution system in Gaza, currently run by UN agencies and NGOs, with Israeli military-controlled hubs, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters in a press conference on May 9 that a new aid distribution mechanism for Gaza would be taking effect “very soon.” Run by the Israelis (a gross violation of humanitarian principles)? No! says Huckabee. It will be run by the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—in which the U.S. encourages UN agencies and other groups to participate. What is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation? According to Associated Press, the group is made up of American security contractors, ex-military officers, former government officials, and humanitarian officials.
Huckabee described the idea that this proposal was the same as the Israeli proposal as “wholly inaccurate,” despite reports that Israeli officials have been heavily involved in crafting it. Huckabee declared that Israel would not bring the food or distribute it but just secure the perimeter from afar while private companies (BlackRock, anyone?) would provide security to the distribution sites. Huckabee said that details about the plan would be announced in the coming days.
