Israel Supports U.N. as Main Aid Channel in Gaza Amid GHF Controversy

Israel wants the United Nations to remain the main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, especially if a ceasefire is reached, according to Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Programme. After visiting Gaza and meeting Israeli officials, Skau said Israel asked the U.N. to prepare to scale up deliveries, dismissing rumors that the U.N. would be sidelined. He added that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial U.S.-backed initiative, was not discussed during those meetings.

The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar continue ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with aid distribution emerging as a key issue. Since May 19, Israel has allowed limited U.N. deliveries into Gaza following an 11-week blockade. A week later, GHF began operations using private U.S. contractors for aid transport. The U.S. State Department has allocated $30 million to the group, which claims to have delivered over 70 million meals and promotes itself as revolutionizing aid delivery in war zones.

However, the U.N. has refused to work with GHF, citing concerns about its neutrality, the militarization of aid, and forced displacement. The U.N. insists its distribution system, though hampered by Israeli access restrictions and looting, remains effective. During a previous two-month ceasefire, the U.N. delivered 600–700 aid trucks daily into Gaza, demonstrating that predictable aid flows reduce theft and unrest.

The U.N. human rights office reported 615 deaths near GHF sites and 183 more on aid convoy routes. GHF denies any fatalities at its locations. Meanwhile, Israel and the U.S. accuse Hamas of stealing U.N. aid, a claim Hamas denies.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the debate over who should lead aid efforts in Gaza remains central to peace talks and aid effectiveness.