Photo: Abaca Press
The founder and CEO of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF ), Jake Wood, announced his unexpected resignation on Monday, saying he no longer supports the work of the foundation, which was established to provide humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip.
In a statement quoted by Ynet, Wood stressed that the programme cannot be implemented in a manner that respects the principles of humanity, neutrality and independence. He also stressed that the only path to lasting peace is the release of hostages, an end to hostilities and dignity for all peoples in the region.
According to the Washington Post, some humanitarian organisations and UN officials have warned that the GHF plan could result in the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Gazans, as it provides for assistance only in certain regions of the enclave, forcing civilians to cross Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) lines.
In addition, Wood hinted at pressure from Israel that could undermine GHF’s independence and principles of humanitarian aid distribution. And other agencies on the ground have already said they will not cooperate with GHF because of the risk of violating humanitarian law.
According to Reuters, the Swiss organisation TRIAL International has called for a legal investigation into the activities of the GHF to check its compliance with international law. The Swiss authorities are currently studying this possibility.
Amid the crisis of confidence, the GHF Board of Directors issued an official response calling Wood’s decision “disappointing” but confirmed that the fund would begin delivering aid on 26 May, with a target of reaching more than one million Palestinians by the end of the week.
“Our trucks are ready. We will deliver humanitarian aid in a neutral and dignified manner. Over time, everyone will see the effectiveness of our model,” said the GHF Board.
However, the Washington Post notes that the programme also raises doubts about funding, logistics and cooperation with the IDF, and the opening of aid centres has already been postponed.
