DaysofPal- A newly surfaced document has revealed details of a controversial Israeli-backed plan to take control of humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, raising alarm among aid agencies and legal experts.
A 14-page document seen by Middle East Eye and circulating among humanitarian organizations outlines the operational blueprint of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an obscure nonprofit registered in Switzerland in February. The foundation, previously unknown, is set to lead a “new operating model” for aid delivery in the war-torn enclave.
According to the document, GHF will oversee the distribution of pre-packaged meals, hygiene kits, and medical supplies through “secure distribution sites,” while using private contractors instead of Israeli soldiers to maintain site security. The meals, each delivering 1,750 kcal, will reportedly cost donors just $1.30.
New entity, old concerns
The foundation presents itself as an independent, transparent alternative to existing aid structures, claiming it was established to “restore that vital lifeline through an independent, rigorously audited model that gets assistance directly, and only, to those in need.”
However, critics argue that the plan serves to sideline established international humanitarian organizations and could make those participating complicit in potential violations of international law.
Earlier this week, Amnesty Switzerland warned that, based on available information, GHF “could be risking contributing to international crimes through its services.”
Despite its insistence on neutrality and professionalism, the GHF’s origin and rapid emergence have triggered widespread skepticism among aid groups, many of whom have reportedly come under pressure from the US government to cooperate with the initiative.
A “New operating model”
The GHF document claims to address the failures of existing humanitarian channels in Gaza, blaming “aid diversion, active combat, and restricted access” for the humanitarian collapse. It stops short of acknowledging Israeli-imposed blockades that have brought Gaza’s population to the brink of famine.
Instead, it accuses Hamas and “criminal organizations” of intercepting and reselling aid while citing Israeli “domestic security concerns and political pressure” as factors limiting humanitarian access.
The foundation plans to build four secure distribution hubs, each serving up to 300,000 people, with the capacity to scale up to two million. Deliveries would be made via armored vehicles along “tightly controlled corridors, monitored in real time to prevent diversion.”
“At just US $1.3 per meal… donors can see immediate, measurable impact,” the document states, positioning the plan as a cost-effective solution to a sprawling crisis.
Security without soldiers?
While the document assures that the Israeli military “will not be stationed at or near” the aid distribution sites, it specifies that security will be managed by “experienced professionals,” including personnel who previously secured the Netzarim Corridor during a recent ceasefire.
Aid distribution will be “without regard to identity, origin, or affiliation,” the foundation claims, and will be “delivered purely based on need, with community dignity and safety as top priorities.”
To support its operations, GHF says it is engaging with local communities and training “additional local champions” to “ethically empower traditional community leaders to reestablish constructive influence.”
Who’s Behind the GHF?
GHF’s leadership and advisory boards are stacked with American executives, many with backgrounds in disaster relief, finance, and military coordination.
Jake Wood, a Marine Corps veteran and founder of Team Rubicon, serves as executive director.
David Burke, also a Marine Corps veteran and former Team Rubicon operative, is chief operating officer. John Acree, a former USAID official with $45 million in US government contracts to his name, will act as head of mission.
Other key figures include Nate Mook, former CEO of World Central Kitchen; Loik Henderson, a legal and business consultant for Fortune 500 firms; Raisa Sheynberg, former head of Facebook’s Libra project and current VP at Mastercard; and Jonathan Foster, a managing director at Current Capital Partners.
An advisory board includes retired U.S. Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz and former UN official Bill Miller. David Beasley, former executive director of the UN World Food Program, is listed as a potential, yet unconfirmed, board member.
The document also says GHF is in talks with “prominent Palestinians” to join its board and is inviting major donors to nominate additional candidates.
The foundation highlights its transparency as a core strength, stating, “Real-time monitoring and beneficiary feedback loop into public dashboards so every dollar is traceable and every outcome verifiable.”
It has secured banking services with US-based Truist Bank and JPMorgan Chase and is establishing a Swiss affiliate for donors who prefer to operate outside the US framework.
GHF also claims that Goldman Sachs has verbally committed to opening an account for the Swiss entity and that it is in discussions with Deloitte and another unnamed global audit firm for third-party oversight.
“Truist,” the document notes, “has demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian and disaster relief efforts,” citing its $725 million commitment to hurricane recovery in North Carolina as evidence.
Mounting skepticism
Despite the foundation’s glossy pitch and promises of accountability, critics remain wary. UN agencies and several humanitarian organizations have expressed doubts about the ethics, legality, and viability of the GHF-led model, particularly amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza.
While Israel’s security cabinet has approved the plan and satellite imagery indicates that construction of aid hubs has already begun, many in the aid community are concerned that this represents an attempt to replace neutral, internationally recognized channels with a politicized alternative.
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