Israeli officials signal they want UN to remain key Gaza aid channel

12/7/2025 6:13

Israeli officials have signaled they want the United Nations to remain the key avenue for humanitarian deliveries in Gaza, the deputy head of the World Food Programme said on Friday, noting the work of a controversial U.S. aid group was not discussed.



"They wanted the U.N. to continue to be the main track for delivery, especially should there be a cease fire, and they asked us to be ready to scale up," Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the U.N. food agency, told reporters on Friday after visiting Gaza and Israel last week.



The U.S., Egypt and Qatar are trying to broker a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza. Hamas said on Wednesday that the flow of aid was one of the sticking points.



Israel and the United States have publicly urged the U.N. to work through the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the U.N. has refused, questioning the group's neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement.