GHF defends its Gaza efforts: "We were never meant to be the entire solution"

The Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), an American aid organization operating in Gaza since May, has responded to criticisms that it has failed to address the region’s humanitarian crisis, asserting that it was never meant to be the sole solution. In an interview with N12, GHF confirmed distributing 95 million meals but emphasized, “The only long-term solution is more aid.” The fund also called on Israel to enhance safe humanitarian corridors, while a U.S. doctor who volunteered in Gaza described dire conditions, with patients resembling “skeletons.”

Established with U.S. and Israeli support to bypass Hamas’s control over aid distribution, GHF aimed to weaken the terrorist group’s grip on Gaza. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed its launch as a “turning point in the war.” However, the fund has faced challenges, with many aid organizations refusing to collaborate and accusations that its efforts fall short of Gaza’s needs.

GHF acknowledged the “severe” situation, with “hungry Palestinians” in the Strip, stating, “Gaza needs more aid. When there’s not enough food, people become desperate, and anarchy develops.” While primarily blaming Hamas and the UN for the crisis, GHF also criticized the IDF: “We appreciate coordination with the IDF, but more must be done to ensure safe humanitarian corridors so civilians can access aid without fear.”

Addressing Key Criticisms

GHF responded to five major allegations raised by the UN, Gaza residents, and global media:

1. Limited Distribution Centers: Critics note GHF operates only four centers, three in southern Gaza, one in the north, compared to the UN’s 400. GHF countered, “We’re ready to open more, including in the north, but need additional donor funding. Our centers were meant to complement, not replace, other mechanisms.”

2. Distance from Population Centers: Centers are far from residents, forcing dangerous journeys. Gaza’s Health Ministry, aligned with Hamas, claims over 1,000 died seeking aid since May, though the IDF hasn’t verified this. GHF responded, “We operate in active combat zones beyond our control. We’ve asked the IDF to avoid military activity near our sites and ensure safe access.”

3. Inaccessibility for Vulnerable Groups: Women, elderly, sick, and children struggle to reach centers. GHF said, “We have dedicated queues for women and children, and a new community distribution program through local groups, piloted successfully in Deir al-Balah, is expanding.”

4. Insufficient Food Quantities: Distributed food amounts to less than one meal per day per resident. GHF replied, “We’ve provided 95 million meals, a huge number for a war zone, but it’s not enough. We weren’t meant to bear this alone. The UN’s withdrawal left us as the only large-scale operator, causing chaos.”

5. Limited Operating Hours: Centers open briefly, with last-minute announcements, causing chaos. GHF explained, “We operate in dynamic war conditions, prioritizing safety. We open early when crowds gather to prevent unrest. More aid is the only long-term solution.”

Doctor’s Testimony: “Patients Looked Like Skeletons”

Mark Braunstein, an Oregon-based emergency medicine doctor, volunteered for two weeks in June at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis through Rahma Worldwide. He told N12, “Patients clearly suffered from food shortages, with single-digit body fat percentages.” Staff, consuming just a few hundred calories daily, frequently fainted. Braunstein lost 7 kilos himself, despite receiving one meager daily meal and occasional vegetables. He noted a severe shortage of medical equipment, with 500 high-risk children unable to be admitted due to lack of space.

After leaving Gaza, Braunstein urged the U.S. to reassess aid to Israel, driven by a desire to end the suffering he witnessed, not by political motives.

Surge in Aid Deliveries

Amid international pressure, Israel significantly increased aid to Gaza over the past day and a half. On Sunday, 180 aid trucks entered, with 120 distributing their contents, and Jordanian and UAE planes airdropped 25 tons of food. The 3,805 tons delivered mark a 200% increase over July’s daily average of 1,261 tons.