American-backed Gaza aid distribution centers had a bumpy but successful first day in operation, distributing over 460,000 meals despite a Hamas roadblock, stampedes, and long lines.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been tasked with implementing President Donald Trump’s aid initiative, designed to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches Gazan civilians while preventing Hamas from seizing supplies — a problem that has persisted since the war began following the group’s October 7, 2023, massacre.

A source familiar with operations at one of the Secure Distribution Sites (SDS) said the GHF team began the day facing a Hamas roadblock aimed at stopping Gazans from reaching the site.

A few hours later, Gazans broke the blockade and queued in long lines to receive boxes containing flour, sugar, chocolate spread, rice, canned corn, pasta, tea, sunflower oil, tuna, and more. Videos show Gazans cheering at the American contractors and shouting “Thank you, America!’

The same source added that many Gazans said this was the first aid they had received without having to pay during the war.

The Hamas-run Ministry of Interior threatened Gazans to reject humanitarian aid on Monday, calling the GHF plan to circumvent the terror group’s authority “completely unacceptable.”

“Anyone who cooperates with the occupation in imposing its agenda will pay the price, and we will take the necessary measures against him,” the ministry added.

A senior Trump administration official told The Daily Wire that the White House is “proud” to back GHF’s “incredible mission” and that the group is a direct threat to “Hamas’ longstanding system of looting the assistance intended for the people of Gaza.”

“The U.N. and other aid agencies were wrong to criticize – aid is getting to the people in need and through their secure distribution system, Israel is kept safe and Hamas empty-handed,” the official said.

According to GHF, Hamas has made death threats to aid groups supporting GHF’s operations

“It is clear that Hamas is threatened by this new operating model, and will do everything in its power to see it fail,” GHF said in a statement. “These threats will not deter us.”

During the operation, videos went viral of GHF contractors retreating from a stampede of Gazans rushing the gate. The GHF team had to pull back to relieve pressure at one of the gates, at which point order was quickly restored.

“At one moment in the late afternoon, the volume of people at the SDS was such that the GHF team fell back to allow a small number of Gazans to take aid safely and dissipate,” GHF said in a statement. “This was done in accordance with GHF protocol to avoid casualties.”

GAZANS FLOOD THE STREETS TO PROTEST HAMAS AS IDF OPERATIONS INTENSIFY

No shots were fired during the incident, according to the source.

GHF distributed 8,000 boxes in total on its first day. Each box can feed 5.5 people for 3.5 days, totaling 462,000 meals, according to the group.

Additional truckloads of food are expected to be delivered to the distribution sites on Wednesday.

GHF has faced attacks by anti-Israel and pro-Israel groups alike. The former camp dismisses it as a tool of the Israeli government, and the latter opposes the distribution of any aid, arguing it could end up in Hamas’ hands and prolong the captivity of the 58 hostages remaining in Gaza.

In response, GHF claims it is apolitical and only working with the Israeli government for security and logistics in its effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gazans in need.

“GHF is in communication with Israeli officials solely for the purposes of deconfliction and to ensure aid can be delivered safely,” according to a GHF statement. “IDF will not have a presence within the immediate vicinity of the distribution sites.”

Food aid distribution in Gaza

Civilian aid workers passing out food to Gazans on May 27, 2024. Faces and children are blurred for security concerns. (Photo: Courtesy)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman has denied claims that it is funding the humanitarian aid mission.

“The media should take a moment to reflect why the U.N. and certain aid groups spent the weekend trying to undermine such an important effort,” the senior Trump administration official said. “These organizations echoed Hamas talking points rather than praising those who are delivering results.”

GHF has also faced attacks for the security contractors helping with the aid, who are American military veterans affiliated with Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions. Both companies helped Egyptians with supervising the checking of vehicles passing through southern to northern Gaza in January when the ceasefire went into effect, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Security contractors transport the aid from Israeli border crossings to the Secure Distribution Sites, where it is distributed to Gazans exclusively by civilian humanitarian teams, according to GHF.

“To be clear, security contractors will not be interfacing with the people of Gaza,” according to GHF.

TERRORIST WHO KILLED ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS WAS INFLUENCED BY A FOREIGN-LINKED LEFTIST ORG

GHF currently operates four distribution sites — three in southern Gaza and one in the central region. Additional locations, including in the north, are expected to open within the next month. The group is also working on plans to implement “last-mile” delivery plans to get aid to civilians who cannot access the secure sites.

GHF also hopes to collaborate with traditional aid organizations, including United Nations-affiliated groups, by offering its delivery infrastructure to help ensure aid is distributed safely and protected from misuse or theft.

According to Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, more than 400 humanitarian aid trucks unaffiliated with GHF are currently waiting inside Gaza for distribution, but have yet to be collected by the designated UN team.

“It’s a strange contrast to the recent lie of 10,000 trucks stuck at the border,” Shoshani wrote. “When the trucks are there—@UNReliefChief is more silent than ever.”

Over the weekend, the executive director of the newly-created GHF, Jake Wood, stepped down, citing frustration with being able to implement the distribution plan.

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“However, it is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon,” Wood said in a statement, adding that he urged Israel to expand the provision of aid into Gaza.

Wood was succeeded by interim Executive Director John Acree, a senior humanitarian practitioner with over 20 years of experience in disaster response, civil-military coordination, and refugee operations. Acree previously worked as a USAID disaster response leader.

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American-backed Gaza aid distribution centers had a bumpy but successful first day in operation, distributing over 460,000 meals despite a Hamas roadblock, stampedes, and long lines.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been tasked with implementing President Donald Trump’s aid initiative, designed to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches Gazan civilians while preventing Hamas from seizing supplies — a problem that has persisted since the war began following the group’s October 7, 2023, massacre.

A source familiar with operations at one of the Secure Distribution Sites (SDS) said the GHF team began the day facing a Hamas roadblock aimed at stopping Gazans from reaching the site.

A few hours later, Gazans broke the blockade and queued in long lines to receive boxes containing flour, sugar, chocolate spread, rice, canned corn, pasta, tea, sunflower oil, tuna, and more. Videos show Gazans cheering at the American contractors and shouting “Thank you, America!’

The same source added that many Gazans said this was the first aid they had received without having to pay during the war.

The Hamas-run Ministry of Interior threatened Gazans to reject humanitarian aid on Monday, calling the GHF plan to circumvent the terror group’s authority “completely unacceptable.”

“Anyone who cooperates with the occupation in imposing its agenda will pay the price, and we will take the necessary measures against him,” the ministry added.

A senior Trump administration official told The Daily Wire that the White House is “proud” to back GHF’s “incredible mission” and that the group is a direct threat to “Hamas’ longstanding system of looting the assistance intended for the people of Gaza.”

“The U.N. and other aid agencies were wrong to criticize – aid is getting to the people in need and through their secure distribution system, Israel is kept safe and Hamas empty-handed,” the official said.

According to GHF, Hamas has made death threats to aid groups supporting GHF’s operations

“It is clear that Hamas is threatened by this new operating model, and will do everything in its power to see it fail,” GHF said in a statement. “These threats will not deter us.”

During the operation, videos went viral of GHF contractors retreating from a stampede of Gazans rushing the gate. The GHF team had to pull back to relieve pressure at one of the gates, at which point order was quickly restored.

“At one moment in the late afternoon, the volume of people at the SDS was such that the GHF team fell back to allow a small number of Gazans to take aid safely and dissipate,” GHF said in a statement. “This was done in accordance with GHF protocol to avoid casualties.”

GAZANS FLOOD THE STREETS TO PROTEST HAMAS AS IDF OPERATIONS INTENSIFY

No shots were fired during the incident, according to the source.

GHF distributed 8,000 boxes in total on its first day. Each box can feed 5.5 people for 3.5 days, totaling 462,000 meals, according to the group.

Additional truckloads of food are expected to be delivered to the distribution sites on Wednesday.

GHF has faced attacks by anti-Israel and pro-Israel groups alike. The former camp dismisses it as a tool of the Israeli government, and the latter opposes the distribution of any aid, arguing it could end up in Hamas’ hands and prolong the captivity of the 58 hostages remaining in Gaza.

In response, GHF claims it is apolitical and only working with the Israeli government for security and logistics in its effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gazans in need.

“GHF is in communication with Israeli officials solely for the purposes of deconfliction and to ensure aid can be delivered safely,” according to a GHF statement. “IDF will not have a presence within the immediate vicinity of the distribution sites.”

Food aid distribution in Gaza

Civilian aid workers passing out food to Gazans on May 27, 2024. Faces and children are blurred for security concerns. (Photo: Courtesy)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman has denied claims that it is funding the humanitarian aid mission.

“The media should take a moment to reflect why the U.N. and certain aid groups spent the weekend trying to undermine such an important effort,” the senior Trump administration official said. “These organizations echoed Hamas talking points rather than praising those who are delivering results.”

GHF has also faced attacks for the security contractors helping with the aid, who are American military veterans affiliated with Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions. Both companies helped Egyptians with supervising the checking of vehicles passing through southern to northern Gaza in January when the ceasefire went into effect, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Security contractors transport the aid from Israeli border crossings to the Secure Distribution Sites, where it is distributed to Gazans exclusively by civilian humanitarian teams, according to GHF.

“To be clear, security contractors will not be interfacing with the people of Gaza,” according to GHF.

TERRORIST WHO KILLED ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS WAS INFLUENCED BY A FOREIGN-LINKED LEFTIST ORG

GHF currently operates four distribution sites — three in southern Gaza and one in the central region. Additional locations, including in the north, are expected to open within the next month. The group is also working on plans to implement “last-mile” delivery plans to get aid to civilians who cannot access the secure sites.

GHF also hopes to collaborate with traditional aid organizations, including United Nations-affiliated groups, by offering its delivery infrastructure to help ensure aid is distributed safely and protected from misuse or theft.

According to Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, more than 400 humanitarian aid trucks unaffiliated with GHF are currently waiting inside Gaza for distribution, but have yet to be collected by the designated UN team.

“It’s a strange contrast to the recent lie of 10,000 trucks stuck at the border,” Shoshani wrote. “When the trucks are there—@UNReliefChief is more silent than ever.”

Over the weekend, the executive director of the newly-created GHF, Jake Wood, stepped down, citing frustration with being able to implement the distribution plan.

Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships

“However, it is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon,” Wood said in a statement, adding that he urged Israel to expand the provision of aid into Gaza.

Wood was succeeded by interim Executive Director John Acree, a senior humanitarian practitioner with over 20 years of experience in disaster response, civil-military coordination, and refugee operations. Acree previously worked as a USAID disaster response leader.

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