UN Ends Boycott Of GHF

Representatives of the United Nations in Gaza finally agreed to meet with people from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, ending a long-standing boycott of months by the UN and affiliated groups against the organization meant to replace at least part of what they do, according to a report by Axios today (Thursday).

According to Axios, "U.S. diplomat Morgan Ortagus participated alongside GHF chairman Johnnie Moore and representatives of the World Food Program, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Red Cross."

Until now, the UN has refused to work with the GHF, insisting that all food distribution be handled exclusively by its volunteers and workers. However, even according to the UN's own numbers, around 90% of aid trucks meant to be handled by the UN and non-GHF groups were robbed by terrorists and armed groups or looted by mobs.

The representatives of both the UN and GHF agreed to meet with no notes or recordings of any kind, so no statements could be attributed to anyone. While meeting in what was called a "respectful and polite discussion," no decisions were made aside from both sides agreeing to tone down their attacks against each other in the press.

The IDF has launched a daily series of airdrops of aid, coordinated with other countries, to try and bypass the chokepoints where aid is stolen, often dropping dozens of packages. These efforts have limits, however, and Israel reportedly plans to work with the United States to expand the GHF's aid stations from 4 to as much as 16, staffing and funding permitting, according to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.