The US State Department is considering giving $500 million to a foundation providing aid to the Gaza Strip, two sources familiar with the matter and two former US officials told Reuters.
This would bring the United States (US) more deeply involved in the work of the controversial organization, whose aid distribution has been marked by tragic events, as dozens of people were killed while waiting for food.
Sources and former US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters that the money for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) would come from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is being merged with the US State Department.
This is being resisted by some US officials, concerned about deadly shootings of Palestinians near aid distribution centers and the GHF's jurisdiction, two sources said.
The GHF, which has been sharply criticized by other aid organizations and the United Nations for its lack of impartiality, began distributing aid last week amid warnings that most of Gaza's 2,3 million residents were at risk of starvation, following an aid blockade imposed by Israel on May 19, when limited deliveries were allowed, and which lasted 11 weeks.
The foundation had to suspend distribution twice this week after too many people flooded the centers and the Israeli army fired on them.
The State Department and GHF did not respond to requests for comment.
Reuters was unable to determine who is currently funding GHF's operations. The foundation uses private US security and logistics companies to transport aid to Gaza for distribution at so-called secure distribution sites.
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