**US Moves Forward with Private Aid Delivery for Gaza Amid UN Concerns**

The initiative faces backlash from the UN, claiming it undermines humanitarian principles and may worsen the already dire conditions for civilians in the region.

The US government has announced a new approach to delivering humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population in Gaza, utilizing private contractors amid the prolonged Israeli blockade. According to US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, the initiative will establish "distribution centres" secured by private security, aiming to provide vital supplies such as food and water to over a million people amidst escalating concerns over Hamas' potential diversion of aid.

Despite not directly participating in distribution efforts, Israel is maintaining control of the perimeter around these centers. The intent of the initiative is to reduce Hamas' access to humanitarian resources while navigating the ongoing crisis. However, this controversial strategy has garnered significant disapproval from UN humanitarian agencies, including the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which stated they will not engage with the new scheme, labeling it as a potential weaponization of humanitarian assistance.

The situation on the ground is increasingly dire, with a third of Gaza’s community kitchens shutting down due to acute shortages of food, and significant price hikes for basic utensils. According to the OCHA, the humanitarian crisis hit its peak after supplies were completely cut off from the region in early March, raising alarms about imminent mass starvation.

With President Trump prioritizing aid for Gaza, the proposed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is reportedly formed to manage the aid distribution outside Israeli military oversight, emphasizing humanitarian principles. Yet, the UN warns that this plan may deepen the suffering of children and the elderly who find it challenging to access increasingly militarized aid distribution points.

As humanitarian channels falter, international observers call for clarity on Israel's intentions while highlighting the urgent need for a cohesive humanitarian strategy that aligns with established international law. Ongoing military offensives by Israel threaten to exacerbate the crisis further as they prepare to expand operations aimed at defeating Hamas and returning hostages taken in the conflict, which reignited following a series of deadly attacks in early October.

Civilians, facing profound uncertainty and hardship, have voiced their desperation as they struggle to secure essential resources. Many report long waits at community kitchens, the last lifeline for food in an increasingly hostile environment, echoing a desperate plea to open borders for needed supplies and assistance.