US-Backed Group Delivers 76 Million Meals, Challenges Hamas’ Grip on Gaza Aid

In a striking development from Gaza, the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is shaking up the aid distribution landscape, delivering over 76 million meals since late May. This isn’t just about food—it’s about power. For years, Hamas has wielded aid as a tool to maintain its iron grip on the population, using everything from charities to schools as leverage over desperate civilians. But GHF’s direct approach is cutting Hamas out of the equation, and the terrorist group isn’t happy about it.

Analysts point out that Hamas’ control over aid has been a cornerstone of its social welfare system, a mechanism to ensure dependency and loyalty among Palestinians. Now, with GHF stepping in, that control is slipping, signaling a potential shift in the region’s power dynamics. The U.S. has thrown significant weight behind GHF, including $30 million in funding, with officials emphasizing the need to prevent Hamas from looting or diverting resources meant for those in need.

However, not everyone is cheering. The United Nations, often critical of Israel, has expressed discontent over losing its grip on aid distribution in Gaza. Some suggest this stems more from institutional bias than a genuine concern for past methods. Meanwhile, GHF’s leadership claims they’ve even aided in getting U.N. operations reauthorized, though responses from U.N. officials remain vague, focusing instead on the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding over the past 21 months.

What’s clear is this: GHF’s bold strategy is rewriting the rules of aid in Gaza. While the lives of Palestinians hang in the balance, the battle over who controls the flow of help is revealing deeper fractures in the region’s fragile structure.