US says solution for Gaza was a step away

9/5/2025 6:36

The U.S. State Department

said on Thursday a solution to be able to deliver food aid to

Gaza was "steps away" and an announcement was coming shortly, as

the aid community expressed skepticism that the plan would bring

relief to the enclave's conflict-ravaged population.



Anticipation has built up about a new aid plan for Gaza,

laid waste by 19 months of an Israeli military campaign against

Hamas that has destroyed much of its infrastructure and

displaced almost all of its 2.3 million population several

times.



European leaders and aid groups have criticized Israeli

plans to take over distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza and

use private companies to get food to families after two months

in which the military has prevented supplies entering the Strip.



Speaking at a regular briefing, State Department

spokesperson Tammy Bruce gave few details about the new

mechanism but referred to a "charitable foundation" that she

said would be carrying out the plan.



"I was hoping to introduce it today, but the foundation will

be announcing this shortly," Bruce said.



"While we don't have anything to announce in specifics in

this regard today, and I will not speak on behalf of the

foundation which will be doing the work, we welcome moves to

quickly get urgent food aid into Gaza in a way ... that the food

aid actually gets to those to whom it's intended."



Israel has accused agencies including the United Nations of

allowing large quantities of aid to fall into the hands of

Hamas, which it accuses of seizing supplies intended for

civilians and using them for its own forces.



Among the options being considered by the United States

based on a document seen by Reuters and circulated among the aid

community, a recently-established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

would stand up four "Secure Distribution Sites", each built to

serve 300,000 people.



Pre-packaged rations, hygiene kits and medical supplies

would move through tightly-controlled corridors while being

monitored in order to prevent the diversion of the assistance,

according to the document.



On-site and perimeter security would be provided by

experienced professionals, according to the document, to "deter

interference from criminal networks or other armed groups who

have historically sought to control or redirect humanitarian

aid." It added that the Israeli Defense Forces will not be

stationed at or near the sites.



The aid community, which has frequently accused Israel of

deliberately disregarding the complexity of aid distribution in

Gaza, was skeptical.



The United Nations Office for the Coordination of

Humanitarian Affairs said the Israeli-proposed authorization

mechanism for the distribution of food aid "appears practically

unfeasible, incompatible with humanitarian principles and will

create serious insecurity risks, all while failing to meet

Israel's obligations under international law," according to a

document shared with U.N. member states and seen by Reuters.







'NON-STARTER'



A Geneva-based aid official said they were briefed by a U.S.

team on a Gaza aid plan on Thursday, adding they were "not very

impressed with the proposal."



Ahmed Bayram, Norwegian Refugee Council's media adviser

for the Middle East, said the Israeli plan raised more questions

than it gave answers and risked aid becoming militarized.



"What is clear is that Israel wants to take aid over... But

it also sets a dangerous precedent, because probably for the

first time in conflict history, or at least in recent conflict,

we would have one of the parties involved in this conflict

deciding where aid should go and how it should be distributed,"

Bayram said.



Communities would have to move around aid hubs and the model

puts civilians in danger, he said, essentially turning aid into

coercion.



"The whole thing is a non-starter for us."



A United Nations Security Council diplomat said all 15

Security Council members were present at a briefing on Wednesday

by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on the plan to deliver

aid to Gaza held at the U.S. mission to the United Nations.



"Everybody is content that the meeting took place and that

someone working on the ground has (finally) briefed the rest of

Council members," the diplomat said in an email.



The diplomat said expectations remain high.



"Members (especially the E10 group) will now give the U.S. a

little time to make some progress otherwise they will step in,

exert pressure and bring in a new product," the diplomat said,

referring to the 10 non-permanent members of the Security

Council.