This photo taken from a position in southern Israel, at the border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke rising above buildings destroyed during an Israeli bombing in the besieged Palestinian territory, on May 27, 2025. (Credit: Jack Guez/AFP.)
The United Nations stated Tuesday that they do not know if the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the U.S., has truly begun its food distributions in the devastated Palestinian territory as it claims.
"We have no information," said Juliette Touma, spokeswoman for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), speaking via videoconference during a press briefing.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), registered in Geneva since February and about which little is known, announced Monday that it has started its food deliveries to Gaza. "More aid trucks will be delivered tomorrow and the aid flow will increase every day," said this foundation, supported by Washington, in a statement.
"We know what is needed, we know what is missing, and we are very, very far from that daily goal," said Touma. According to her, "at least 500 to 600 trucks should enter Gaza, loaded with supplies," but also "medicines, medical supplies, vaccines for children, fuel, water, and other basic necessities essential for the survival of the population."
The U.N. is not involved in the GHF's actions, said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), during the briefing.
"This takes us away from what is really needed, which is the reopening of all crossings into Gaza, a safe environment inside [the strip], and faster facilitation of permits and final approvals for all emergency supplies that we have just outside the border and need to be delivered," he continued.
Pressure is mounting on Israel to end its offensive in the besieged, starving, and devastated Palestinian territory after more than 19 months of war. This conflict was triggered by a bloody and unprecedented attack on Oct.7, 2023, in southern Israel by Hamas commandos infiltrated from the neighboring Gaza Strip.
But the military escalation and the suffering of the 2.4 million civilians in the Gaza Strip, subjected by the Israeli army to an aid blockade, are fueling growing international outrage, including among Israel's most loyal allies.
No aid from UNRWA has been delivered since March 2, Touma noted.
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