A new American-led group aims to run Gaza aid deliveries using an Israel-influenced plan.

 A newly formed American-led group composed of ex-military officers, private security contractors, and humanitarian aid officials is pushing to take control of aid distribution in Gaza, according to a proposal obtained by the Associated Press.

The plan, put forward by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, seeks to establish a US-backed alternative to the current aid network led by the United Nations and other international NGOs. The blueprint bears striking resemblance to mechanisms reportedly drafted by Israel, which the UN and many humanitarian groups have consistently rejected.

The proposed system would supplant the UN-run aid corridors, which have been under strain due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes, internal chaos, and bottlenecks at the border. The foundation claims it can streamline the delivery of essential supplies—food, medicine, and water—by creating secure, militarised routes under the protection of Western contractors.

While the proposal cites the dire conditions on the ground—where over 2 million Gazans face famine and displacement—it has sparked alarm among aid organisations and international observers who view the plan as a move to politicise and militarise humanitarian aid.

“The suggestion that foreign security contractors should take over aid distribution risks further undermining neutrality, which is critical to humanitarian access,” a senior UN official told the AP under condition of anonymity.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to documents reviewed, includes former members of the US military, Department of Defense advisors, and people previously involved in logistics during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The group argues that the UN has lost credibility and control in Gaza, citing increasing incidents of aid looting and logistical breakdowns.

Their strategy reportedly includes checkpoint-based delivery, surveillance drones, and “aid hubs” patrolled by armed contractors to secure drop points—paralleling Israeli military concepts previously suggested for southern Gaza.

Israel has long voiced frustration with the UN’s coordination role, particularly the UNRWA, which it accuses of collusion with Hamas—allegations strongly denied by the agency. Several Western governments paused funding to UNRWA earlier this year but have since resumed it amid famine warnings from the World Food Programme.

Although no formal green light has been given to the foundation, insiders say some US and Israeli officials are “open” to the idea. The Biden administration has not publicly commented on the group or its plan.

Aid experts warn that replacing neutral organisations with a US-aligned entity—especially one with military ties—could lead to further instability, making aid workers targets and reducing trust among local communities. “This could be catastrophic,” said a European diplomat. “The optics of a foreign, armed force distributing aid in Gaza are disastrous.”

The timing of the proposal is particularly sensitive. Just this week, over 100 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes, and the UN has reported complete collapse of food distribution in parts of northern Gaza. With Israeli forces pushing deeper into southern Gaza, the chaos has only worsened.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation insists its plan is a practical answer to a failing system. Its founders argue that humanitarian need outweighs political considerations, and that their model ensures speed and security.

Yet critics say it reflects a deepening shift in the international approach to Gaza—from one focused on impartial humanitarianism to one heavily influenced by Western military and strategic interests.

For now, the plan remains unofficial and unendorsed, but its mere existence signals growing fractures in how the world plans to respond to Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis.