GHF says it delivered food to Gazan community leaders for distribution as part of pilot program

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reports that it distributed another 17,000 boxes of food at three sites in Rafah and central Gaza today, a day after it said it was forced to shutter operations due to threats against its staff by Hamas operatives.

GHF says it also delivered 11 trucks’ worth of aid to community leaders for distribution in northern Rafah, as part of a pilot program that will see supplies delivered directly to Gazans, rather than forcing them to walk long distances and cross IDF lines in order to receive aid.

“We will be reviewing the operations and determining if this is a viable option moving forward,” it says.

Amid escalating tensions, the GHF reports it successfully delivered thousands of food boxes across Gaza “without incident” today, despite claims of IDF shooting near aid sites and explicit threats from Hamas against its staff.

“GHF is actively testing and adapting its distribution model to safely deliver the maximum amount of aid to the greatest number of people. We remain flexible and will continue to adapt distributions based on conditions on the ground, including road access, crowd pressure, and safety considerations,” continues the update, adding that the foundation is planning to open additional sites in northern Gaza.

John Acree, GHF’s interim executive director, adds, “Recently, we have started a women’s and children only lane to ensure they receive aid and today we piloted a direct-to-community delivery.”

Asked about the logistics behind the new delivery method, a GHF spokesman tells reporters that trucks delivered food “in population hubs outside of [the three aid centers], in order to reduce pressure on the main centers.” The spokesman specifies that “boxes are being distributed directly to people” as opposed to warehouses, to bypass Hamas operatives.

GHF said earlier today that it would open just one aid distribution site in central Gaza, after keeping the three sites closed yesterday over what it said were threats from the Hamas terror group against its staff members. The spokesman shares an Arabic-language threat from Hamas he says was received by GHF staff members: “This is your final warning: We are fully aware of everything you are doing, and all your movements are being monitored with extreme precision. You will not be forgiven for getting involved in projects that harm the dignity of our people and serve suspicious agendas under the guise of humanitarian work. Continuing down this path will have serious consequences, and you will bear full responsibility for the results of your actions. Stop now, or else.”

Addressing safety and security at the sites, GHF says, “Aid distribution at all three sites proceeded without incident.”

For multiple days in a row last week, and again this morning, there have been unverified reports of deadly shootings by IDF troops at and near the aid sites run by the Israel- and US-backed organization.