The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has unveiled an innovative food distribution system aimed at delivering aid directly to families in Gaza, circumventing potential interference from Hamas. This new initiative addresses previous criticisms of GHF’s distribution model, which required civilians to travel long distances and navigate military zones to receive aid. The revamped system empowers community leaders to coordinate with GHF or its NGO partners for local distribution. A GHF team will assess the needs of these leaders and organize the initial delivery of food aid. Locals can then collect boxes at designated locations, ensuring that aid reaches the intended recipients.

John Acree, GHF’s interim Executive Director, emphasized the need for fresh approaches to tackle the complex humanitarian challenges in Gaza. He praised his team for their innovative thinking in developing this new system. In collaboration with the Gazan NGO Al-Amal, GHF successfully distributed approximately 2,000 boxes of food aid to central Gaza residents using this method.

Since its inception in May, GHF has provided 67 million meals but faced criticism over its previous model, which involved four distribution points. Reports of violence against aid recipients by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been disputed by the IDF as false. According to Israel’s Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Hamas has been accused of firing at residents near distribution sites and spreading misinformation about IDF actions.

GHF leaders have also accused Hamas of hoarding and misusing humanitarian aid for coercive purposes. Acree highlighted the challenging environment in Gaza and expressed optimism about the new program’s success in delivering food to those most in need.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the significance of this new system in ensuring aid reaches Gazans without falling into Hamas’s hands. In an interview with FOX Business, he rejected calls for the U.N. to oversee aid distribution, citing concerns about Hamas diverting resources for its own use.

The U.S. State Department has allocated $30 million in funding to support GHF’s efforts. The foundation aims to partner with more NGOs to expand its reach, with a goal of distributing over 20,000 boxes of aid daily across Gaza.