Washington’s ambassador to Israel announced that a US-supported mechanism for delivering aid to Gaza is expected to be implemented soon, ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East. However, he provided limited details.
Residents of Gaza are experiencing an escalating humanitarian crisis as Israel maintains a blockade on aid supplies for months, during the ongoing conflict with the militant group Hamas.
Ambassador Mike Huckabee mentioned that several partners have already pledged their participation in the aid initiative but refrained from disclosing their identities, stating that further details will be made available in the coming days.
“There has been a positive initial response,” the former Republican governor remarked to reporters at the embassy in Jerusalem.
The Tikva Forum, a pro-Israel group representing some families of hostages taken to Gaza, criticized the announcement, asserting that aid should be contingent upon Hamas releasing the 59 hostages.
President Trump, aiming to negotiate a deal for Israel and Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties, is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates next week.
Trump had hinted at a significant announcement prior to his trip. It remains uncertain if this was part of what Huckabee revealed.
There is growing anticipation surrounding a new aid plan for Gaza, devastated by 19 months of Israeli military operations against Hamas, which have obliterated much of the region’s infrastructure and caused multiple displacements of its 2.3 million residents.
“It won’t be flawless, particularly in the early stages,” Huckabee acknowledged. “Facilitating this will pose logistical challenges.”
Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, emphasized that Israelis will play a role in providing the necessary military security (File image).
European leaders and humanitarian organizations have condemned Israel’s plan, which has barred aid from entering Gaza since the ceasefire with Hamas ended in March, allowing private companies to manage humanitarian assistance in the region.
Israel has accused various agencies, including the United Nations, of permitting aid to be misappropriated by Hamas, alleging that the group seizes supplies meant for civilians and redistributes them to bolster its military efforts or sells them for funding.
Criticism of the plan
“Israelis will be involved in providing necessary military security since it is a conflict zone, but they won’t handle the distribution of food or its delivery into Gaza,” Huckabee conveyed during a press conference.
When asked if the aid supply was contingent on a ceasefire, Huckabee replied: “The delivery of humanitarian aid will rely solely on our capacity to transport food into Gaza.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed concerns over the emerging plans for aid distribution in Gaza proposed by both Israel and the United States, arguing that such measures would increase suffering for children and families.
Read more: Red Cross appeals to governments to act now to end Gaza ‘horror’; Govt ‘standing by’ while weapons pass through airspace – Murphy
A proposal is circulating within the aid community for a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which would distribute food from four “Secure Distribution Sites,” echoing Israel’s earlier announcements, but it faces criticism for potentially exacerbating displacement issues among Gazans.
Huckabee indicated that there would be an “initial number” of distribution centers capable of feeding “up to a million people” initially, with plans to expand to support two million.
“Private security” would ensure the safety of workers entering the distribution centers and during the food distribution process, Huckabee disclosed, opting not to elaborate on security personnel engagement rules.
“All actions will adhere to international law,” he affirmed.
Mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have not successfully implemented a second phase of the ceasefire. Israel demands Hamas’s total disarmament, which Hamas firmly rejects.
Hamas has stated its willingness to release all remaining hostages taken during attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and to agree to a permanent ceasefire if Israel completely withdraws from Gaza.
Israel has announced plans to intensify its military campaign in Gaza, triggering U.N. warnings of a looming famine for its population.
Hamas’s assaults on October 7, 2023, resulted in 1,200 fatalities, with 251 individuals taken hostage back to Gaza, based on Israeli reports. In retaliation, Israel’s actions have resulted in over 52,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza.
