The head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US-backed private humanitarian organisation that is tasked with distributing aid in Gaza using an Israeli-initiated plan has resigned.
Saying that the operation could not fulfil its mission in a way that adhered to “humanitarian principles,” Executive Director, Jake Wood announced his resignation in a statement.
His decision adds fresh uncertainty to the operation’s future.
The foundation, which has been based in Geneva since February, has vowed to distribute 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation.
However, the United Nations and traditional aid agencies have already said they will not cooperate with the group, fearing it violates “fundamental humanitarian principles” and breaches international law.
UN officials have said the foundation’s aid distribution plans would only foment forced relocation of Palestinians and more violence.
That plan, which had been set to begin by the end of May, was initiated by Israel and involves private companies – instead of the UN and aid groups who have handled Palestinian aid for decades – transporting aid into Gaza to a limited number of so-called secure distribution sites, which Israel said would be in Gaza’s south.
Heads of household would be expected to collect boxes weighing up to 20kg with several days’ supply of food and basic hygiene items like soap for their families.
There is no provision for those too sick or weakened by famine to walk long distances across Gaza’s ruined landscape with heavy loads.
The GHF’s plan for delivering aid has been approved by Israel and the US, which both countries say is designed to prevent Hamas from “stealing” aid.
Wood said in the statement that he was approached two months ago about leading the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s efforts because of his experience in humanitarian operations
“Like many others around the world, I was horrified and heartbroken at the hunger crisis in Gaza and, as a humanitarian leader, I was compelled to do whatever I could to help alleviate the suffering.”
Jake Wood
Wood stressed that he was proud of the work he oversaw, “including developing a pragmatic plan that could feed hungry people, address security concerns about diversion, and complement the work of longstanding NGOs in Gaza.”
However, he said, it had become “clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon.”
In a statement, the Foundation’s board said that it was “disappointed” by Wood’s departure, criticizing opponents who they said “have been more focused on tearing this apart than on getting aid in.”
However, the board vowed not to be deterred from efforts to reach the enclave’s entire population in coming weeks.
It said, “Our trucks are loaded and ready to go,” adding that GHF would begin direct aid delivery in Gaza from Monday to reach more than one million Palestinians by the end of the week.
A spokesperson for the US state department said that it remained supportive of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s plans to begin to deliver aid soon.
Israel Urged To Expand Aid Delivery To Gaza
Moreover, Wood called on Israel “to significantly expand the provision of aid into Gaza through all mechanisms.”
He also urged all stakeholders to continue to explore innovative new methods for the delivery of aid, “without delay, diversion, or discrimination.”
The GHF is only expected to be able to feed about 60% of Gaza’s population in its first weeks.
Gaza faces widespread starvation amid a severe shortage of essential humanitarian aid.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said it has recorded 58 deaths from malnutrition and 242 deaths from shortages of food and medicine since Israel’s blockade on aid began in March.
Despite mounting international pressure that pushed Israel to lift a blockade on aid supplies in the face of warnings of looming famine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that Israel would control the whole of Gaza.
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