US, Israel Near Agreement on Gaza Aid Mechanism

The United States, Israel, and representatives of a new international foundation are nearing an agreement on a new mechanism to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, aiming to prevent Hamas from controlling the distribution. The proposed system would deliver aid through an internationally backed trust fund, with logistics and security managed by a private American company, and without direct involvement from the Israeli military at the distribution sites. Aid would be distributed from designated hubs inside Gaza, allowing families to collect packages sufficient for a week, while infrastructure for these centers would be funded and constructed by Israel. The move comes as aid agencies warn of a looming collapse of humanitarian operations in Gaza due to Israel’s blockade and a severe shortage of food, water, and medicine. U.S. officials emphasize that the new approach is designed to ensure aid reaches those in need without diversion or misuse by groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The agreement is expected to be finalized before Israel expands its ground operations in Gaza.