What Is the New Israeli-American Gaza Aid Plan?
- Uri Pilichowski
- May 18
- 2 min read
There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza that is in tandem with Israel’s war against Hamas. Critics frequently ask, “What is the root cause of the crisis?” Is it Hamas’ aggression toward Israel on October 7? Is it UN corruption and ineptitude? Is Israel even allowing enough aid through, and if it is, is the aid falling into the hands of Hamas terrorists?
Israel has blocked food, medicine, fuel, and other supplies from entering Gaza since March 2, 2025, saying it’s trying to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and disarming. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime. Israel has said it won’t resume aid until it installs a new distribution mechanism, replacing the massive operation led by the UN and independent relief groups throughout the 19-month-old war. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of siphoning off aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion occurs, saying it monitors distribution.
What is the new Israeli-American Gaza aid plan?
The US and Israel have announced a plan to allow food and essential supplies back into Gaza after a 10-week Israeli ban. The proposed solution would only provide food and aid to around 60 percent of Gaza's civilians. The program is an about-face from Israel's earlier policy to withhold aid to pressure Hamas to free Israeli hostages.
Gaza's population would be forced to move south to receive aid in a new zone cordoned off by Israel's military, to prevent Hamas members from accessing, an Israeli defense official told reporters. A private charity recently registered in Switzerland called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation would establish four aid distribution sites and hand out pre-packaged food, hygiene kits, and medical supplies.
Where is the United Nations in the new plan?
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has rejected Israel's proposal, saying in April it risked "further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour." The United Nations says any aid distribution must be independent, impartial, and neutral, in line with humanitarian principles.
Why does the Israeli-American Gaza aid plan matter?
The new Israeli-American Gaza aid plan is different from the standard United Nations-run humanitarian aid projects that have been employed in Gaza in the past. The plan represents a global pivot away from the plans of the past that critics describe as having exacerbated the problem more than solving it.
While critics suspect this new plan won’t work, if it is successful and the people of Gaza are saved from their crises, a new structure for providing humanitarian aid will have been found.
In addition, this plan can have far-reaching bilateral implications. Employing humanitarian aid organizations has the potential to strengthen the US-Israel relationship in another area.
Uri Pilichowski is an author, speaker, and senior educator at institutions around the world.