Some in Israel concerned Trump’s USAID freeze may spark humanitarian crisis in Gaza — official

The Trump administration’s halt to much of the operations of the US Agency for International Development has some in Israel concerned, as it coincides with the implementation of Knesset legislation severely restricting the operations of UNRWA — a combination that could spark a humanitarian crisis if the war in Gaza resumes, a senior Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.

The concern is largely being voiced within COGAT — the Israeli military body responsible for facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the Israeli official explains.

Israel has been working to have alternative international agencies replace the large logistical role UNRWA has been playing in the Gaza humanitarian operation.

USAID funds many of those agencies, including the World Food Programme. While some of that funding has been allowed to continue in recent days, the Israeli official says there are other programs USAID funds in Gaza, the West Bank and beyond that are important to Israel’s security and economy but are currently in limbo.