Tel Aviv: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on Friday the rollout of a new humanitarian aid delivery system aimed at easing the deepening crisis in Gaza.
This alternative framework, which will involve multiple international partners, is set to begin operations "very soon" and will replace the current United Nations-led distribution mechanism.
Citing growing concerns over starvation and the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Huckabee said that the initiative will involve close cooperation among various governments, NGOs, and charitable organisations worldwide. However, he withheld specifics, noting that some aspects of the partners’ involvement are still being finalized.
“It’s a significant undertaking,” Huckabee remarked. “It will demand coordination not only between governments but also with nonprofits and aid groups. Several partners are already on board, but we’re not in a position to name them just yet.”
While details about the logistical structure remain limited, Huckabee underscored that Israel will play a security role, ensuring that the aid reaches civilians without interference.
“The priority is twofold: ensuring that aid reaches those in need safely and efficiently, and making sure it doesn’t end up in the hands of Hamas,” he said.
The Ambassador made clear that although Israel will oversee the security aspect, the overall management of the aid delivery will remain independent of Israeli authorities.
This comes amid Israeli concerns that humanitarian supplies have been misappropriated by Hamas, an allegation strongly denied by United Nations officials and aid workers operating on the ground. Israel continues to enforce a strict blockade on Gaza, restricting the flow of essential goods like food, fuel, and medicine.
The UN has voiced strong objections to any system that allows Israel to dictate the distribution of aid, citing its core humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
Despite Israel’s insistence on maintaining oversight to prevent diversion, Huckabee stressed that this new mechanism is not an Israeli-led initiative, distancing the effort from political control while aiming to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in the region.
