The United Nations does not support the agency described as “humanitarian” under Israel’s Operation Gideon Chariot to distribute food aid in Gaza. It refused to cooperate with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization run by Israelis and Americans, because of questionable company ownership. According to the UN, the group is not “neutral,” especially since it is operated by a country that is attacking the civilian population. The UN, along with many countries and international institutions, condemned Israel and the US for increasingly weaponizing aid and food against civilians.

The GHF was established by Israel, in partnership with the US, to “counter” Hamas by strictly controlling food and aid for civilians. Even its first leader, a former US Marine, resigned from his position, saying he cannot guarantee GHF’s claim of being humanitarian, neutral, impartial, and independent.

According to the UN, the GHF compromises the impartiality and independence of food aid in conflict areas, and this endangers both the organization’s workers and civilians.

The GHF’s first attempt at distributing food aid in Southern Gaza on May 26 dissolved into chaos. The group boasted that it distributed boxes of food, aiming to feed nearly one million Palestinians until the end of May. However, many who flocked to the distribution site received no rations, and some food was spilled on the ground and wasted. To “control” the “chaos,” Israeli soldiers serving as GHF guards fired warning shots.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) condemned the militarized food distribution to a population already desperate for it. The videos of the failed GHF distribution were described as “heartbreaking.” The UN already hava a protocol for principled and systematic food distribution to Gaza residents wherever they are located. The GHF disregarded this and insisted on distributing aid at a single location.

Aside from the GHF, many other private American companies have entered Gaza to assist Israeli soldiers in confining Palestinian civilians and militarizing aid distribution. Some of these are:

1) Safe Reach Solutions: A security company established and staffed by no other than former American soldiers. Former CIA official Philip Raleigh founded it. Its armed personnel serve as guards at Israeli checkpoints, inspecting vehicles entering North Gaza. It has 100 former American soldiers who “help” ensure security during aid distribution in the area.

2) UG Solutions: Another security company that collaborates with Safe Reach Solutions in planning and providing logistics (weapons, etc.) and security at checkpoints in Gaza. It also provides “security” at aid distribution sites.

3) S.R.S. Security Firm: A security company owned by Philip F. Reilly, a former high-ranking CIA official. It began operations in Gaza during the ceasefire. Its job is to search Palestinian vehicles for “weapons” in them.

The selection of these companies was made by the highest officials of Israel, together with the US, without passing through their respective parliaments and congresses.