Above photo: AFP.
Cites Ethical Concerns.
The GHF said the resignation was ‘disappointing’ and condemned those who have been critical of the controversial plan, which aims to further displace Palestinians in Gaza
Jake Wood, the executive director of the controversial Israeli-led aid distribution plan for Gaza, announced his resignation on 26 May due to the impossibility of implementing the initiative without violating “humanitarian principles of humanity.”
Wood stressed that upon assuming his role, the plan was still a “loose constellation of various ideas and concepts” which he sought to establish “as a truly independent humanitarian entity.”
“I am proud of the work I oversaw, including developing a pragmatic plan that could feed hungry people, address security concerns about diversion, and complement the work of longstanding NGOs in Gaza,” the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) director added.
“However, it is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon,” he went on to say.
Wood said he was “horrified and heartbroken” by the hunger crisis in Gaza, and urged Israel to “significantly expand the provision of aid into Gaza through all mechanisms.” He also called for all stakeholders to pursue “innovative new methods for the delivery of aid, without delay, diversion, or discrimination.” Earlier this month, Wood had been urging the UN to participate in the plan, and vowed that he “will not be a part of anything that forcibly dislocates or displaces the Palestinian population.”
In a statement, the GHF said it was “disappointed” by the resignation and criticized those who “have been more focused on tearing this apart than on getting aid in.”
Since being unveiled earlier this month, GHF has faced widespread criticism from UN agencies and other international organizations, which have argued that the plan aims to propel Israel’s goal of further displacing the people of Gaza. The UN has rejected participation in the plan.
GHF relies on the use of private US contractors who will be in charge of several distribution centers in south and central Gaza. Palestinians in other areas who have had their homes destroyed and have already been displaced multiple times will have to travel across the strip under bombardment to secure aid, while forfeiting the right to return home.
The plan also includes the use of facial recognition technology aimed at screening Palestinians in exchange for humanitarian aid, which the UN has said “contravenes basic humanitarian principles” and is designed to “reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic.”
Israel says the plan aims to prevent Hamas from stealing humanitarian aid – a claim which the UN says there is no evidence for. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv continues to turn a blind eye to the aid-looting gangs who operate in the strip.
GHF was conceived at the very start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. While US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said when the plan was unveiled this month that it would be “inaccurate” to call it an “Israeli plan,” the project has its roots in Tel Aviv.
According to the New York Times (NYT), the details of the plan were first discussed by a group of officials and businesspeople with ties to the Israeli government, called the Mikveh Yisrael Forum, who came up with an idea that aims to bypass the UN and all other humanitarian groups in Gaza.
The plan was supposed to be launched on Sunday but was delayed due to “logistical obstacles,” according to Hebrew media reports. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday morning that GHF has been launched as of 26 May.
This comes after Israeli media cited suppliers as saying last week that nobody is able to fulfill the plan’s “huge” requirements.
Israel has continued to prevent sufficient amounts of aid from entering Gaza. Authorities in the strip say what is entering amounts to less than one percent of what the population desperately needs.
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv has taken control of more than 75 percent of the strip and continues to carry out indiscriminate attacks.
At least 20 people were killed on 26 May in an Israeli strike targeting a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City. The victims, including children, were burned alive.
