A group of American security entrepreneurs, former military officers and humanitarian aid leaders proposes to resume the distribution of assistance to Gaza on the basis of plans similar to those designed by Israel.
According to a proposal from the newly created group, the Gaza Humaninian Foundation (GHF), obtained by AP, the idea is to implement a new aid distribution system supplanting the current managed by the UN and other international aid agencies.
The 14 -page proposal has been broadcast this week among the help groups and UN officials present plans similar to those of Israel have been discussing in private with international aid groups for weeks.
Under the new group's proposal, the Palestinians would receive prepackéed rations, drinking water, hygiene kits, covers and other supplies in four distribution centers under the protection of private safety entrepreneurs.
The group said it wanted to associate with the UN and international aid groups to distribute their supplies.
An American official has confirmed the authenticity of the proposal and said that David Beasley, the former United Nations World Food Program Director, is the main choice of GHF management.
The manager, speaking under the cover of anonymity to discuss the plans that have not been made public, said that the proposal could still be revised and that Beasley's role was not confirmed.
Israel blocked food, fuel, medication and all other Gaza seizure supplies for 10 weeks, aggravating a humanitarian crisis for 2.3 million Palestinians living in the enclave.
Managers say that the blockade’s goal is to force Hamas activists to release the 59 hostages they still hold in Gaza.
Israel also said that it did not help in the band until a system is in place which gives it control of the distribution.
A UN official said last week that Israel's plans “would arm the aid” by imposing restrictions on which is eligible to receive it.
Israel accuses Hamas and other activists of siphoning large amounts of help for personal purposes and strengthening their units. The UN and humanitarian workers deny that there is an important diversion.
How would the proposal work?
According to the document, GHF initially created four distribution sites, each serving 300,000 people.
This would cover about half of the Gaza population. The system would be extended to meet the needs of 2 million people.
But the proposal does not provide a calendar, and humanitarian workers warn that food is exhausted quickly in Gaza under the blockade of Israel.
The GHF proposal said that subcontractors would use armored vehicles to transport supplies from the Gaza border to distribution sites, where they would also ensure security.
He did not specify who would ensure security, but said that he could include staff who previously worked in the Netzarim corridor, an area held by Israeli cutting northern Gaza.
A private logistics and operating company, Safe Reach Solutions, worked in the corridor.
GHF said people would receive assistance according to needs, without any eligibility condition. Humanitarian workers say that Israel said that he intended to check the recipients of aid and detect them using facial recognition.
What do the help groups say?
Haid workers criticized the plans, claiming that the proposal could not meet the needs of the large population of Gaza and that they would force a large number of Palestinians by forcing them to get closer to the aid centers.
Throughout the War of Israel-Hamas in Gaza, the UN and other humanitarian groups have carried out a massive program for helping aid.
They transported trucks to supplies and distributed them through the territory, going as close as possible to the place where the Palestinians were.
What has mainly hampered the system, have declared the humanitarian workers, are Israeli military operations and the restrictions on the movement, as well as the small amount of aid authorized to enter even before the blockade.
Convises have also been attacked by criminal groups flying from help, and the Palestinians have sometimes taken truck supplies.
Humanitarian workers have questioned whether GHF would meet humanitarian requirements for neutrality and independence.
Shaina Low, communication advisor for the Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the main organizations of Gaza, said that the aid groups fear that the plan will be used “to advance military and political objectives”.
By forcing the population to move around the aid poles, the system “would depopulate entire parts of Gaza” and could be used to potentially expel the population, she said.
“They celize (the plan) to solve the problem that does not really exist,” she said, referring to the statements of Israel that she has to prevent Hamas from stealing aid.
The use of private security companies has also alarmed humanitarian workers. If it is common that private security companies operate in conflict areas, they must respect humanitarian law and, at least, be fully verified and monitored, said Jamie Williamson, executive director of the International Code of Conduct Association.
Tamara Alrifai, director of communications of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, who led the Gaza aid effort, said the plan was logistically impracticable.
She said that the Foundation does not seem to correspond to the current infrastructure necessary to distribute food and meet other humanitarian needs.