The Struggle to Get Aid Into Gaza

Summary

Summary of "The Struggle to Get Aid Into Gaza" - The Journal Podcast

Introduction

In the June 4, 2025 episode of The Journal, hosted by Jessica Mendoza and Ryan Knutson, the focus is on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, now extending into its 20th month without a foreseeable resolution. The episode delves into the escalating humanitarian crisis, the controversial new aid distribution plan, and the myriad challenges faced in delivering essential assistance to the beleaguered population of Gaza.

Prolonged Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis

Jessica Mendoza opens the discussion by highlighting the persistent nature of the Israel-Hamas war:

“The Israel Hamas war in Gaza is Now in month 20 with no end in sight.” [00:05]

Anat Pelid, a colleague covering the conflict, provides an update on the stalled ceasefire negotiations:

“The war is grinding on and negotiations for a ceasefire for hostage exchange are officially ongoing. But we haven't seen any breakthrough yet.” [00:12]

As the conflict drags on, the humanitarian situation deteriorates. Mendoza outlines the worsening crisis:

“A crisis that's been getting worse. Last week, a controversial new plan was put in place to help distribute aid. It's backed by Israel and the US and it promises to deliver food to Palestinians in Gaza. But implementation has been mired in chaos and disorder.” [00:23]

Challenges in Aid Distribution

The episode details the tumultuous attempts to distribute humanitarian aid amidst ongoing violence. Anat Pelid describes the chaos at distribution sites:

“On the first day of the launch, we saw large crowds break into one of the distribution sites and there was looting and there was chaos and the American staff had to retreat.” [00:51]

Mendoza adds the toll of these disruptions:

“Violence has broken out twice this week as Palestinians made their way to a distribution Center. More than 40 Gazans have been killed trying to get aid.” [01:29]

The blurred lines between combatants and civilians complicate aid efforts, leading to dire shortages and starvation. Anat Pelid emphasizes the severe conditions:

“The situation is pretty bad. A lot of people are living in tents. There's very little food. So we're seeing kind of a state of chaos as Hamas kind of also loses some sort of grip on the Strip or, you know, it's weakened. There's just kind of a breakdown.” [02:21]

Evolution of Humanitarian Aid Efforts

Historically, the United Nations managed aid distribution through hundreds of sites. However, as the conflict intensified, aid influx became perilous. Anat Pelid explains:

“The UN was saying not enough trucks are going in. They would count it by trucks. The aim was like hundreds. But there was just a bit of back and forth also between the UN and Israel, kind of both sides kind of accusing each other of being responsible for not enough aid going in.” [04:13]

By mid-2024, aid trucks became targets for looters and militants, severely hindering delivery efforts. A temporary ceasefire in January allowed a surge in aid flow, but the subsequent blockade imposed by Israel in March halted the influx once again, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Introduction of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)

In response to the ongoing blockade, Israel and the US introduced a new aid plan managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Mendoza poses critical questions about this new entity:

“Aid would begin flowing into Gaza through a new group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Can you tell us about them? Who are they and who funds them?” [06:20]

Anat Pelid sheds light on the uncertainties surrounding GHF:

“There's a lot of question marks about this new aid plan. So we know it's basically an Israeli American plan. The Gaza Humanitarian foundation is a private entity that's kind of overseeing this whole aid operation. So it's basically registered in the US currently, and they are basically leading the whole effort. But they've also had some crises going into this. There was the resignation of Jake Wood, who was the chief of the foundation. And there's a lot of questions about the funding.” [07:28]

Operational Challenges and Security Concerns

GHF's aid distribution differs significantly from the UN's approach, operating only four centers with limited geographical coverage. Anat Pelid explains:

“GHF has set up four plan centers... we don't have sites in the north at the moment, which is an issue, because before there were many possibilities to go get aid, but now it's trickier.” [08:44]

The aid distribution is secured by Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), a private security company:

“GHF relies on a private security company called Safe Reach Solutions, or SRS, the company is based in the US and they are working with GHF and they are basically tasked with delivering the aid.” [08:32]

However, employing a security firm for aid administration is unconventional. Anat Pelid notes:

“It is unusual. We're not quite sure why they were selected. They're pretty new in the game.” [10:01]

On-the-Ground Reality and Violence

Despite GHF's efforts, the distribution process remains fraught with violence and inefficiency. Mendoza highlights incidents where aid centers became hotspots for clashes:

“On Sunday, we had an incident where basically large crowds were making their way again to the one distribution center that's open in Rafah... the Israeli military fired warning shots... more than 20 Gazans were killed.” [15:16]

Witness accounts reveal the human cost of these failures. Mohammed Nahal, a 44-year-old from Khan Younis, recounts:

“They saw dead people around him, including his cousin, who was shot, he says was killed.” [17:16]

Similarly, Ayman Al Gharib, a 42-year-old from Rafah, describes the chaos:

“They began to be fired at around 3am... he also saw a person next to him who he said was killed.” [18:54]

These testimonies contradict GHF's statements that no shootings occurred at their centers, indicating a severe disconnect between official narratives and on-the-ground realities.

Criticism and Perception of GHF

The new aid system has been met with widespread criticism. Over 20 countries and aid groups have expressed concerns:

“Critics are also concerned about Israel's involvement in the distribution of aid.” [10:29]

Palestinian civilians express frustration over the perceived unfairness of the aid distribution process. Anat Pelid summarizes their sentiment:

“A lot of people we spoke to have said that the system is unfair. So there's no checks on who's taking. Maybe you come every day for several boxes, and maybe, you know, one person just isn't able to get any.” [20:36]

GHF's response to the violence has been to tout the number of meals delivered, while eyewitness reports suggest that safety and fairness are severely compromised.

Current Status and Future Outlook

As of late May, GHF initiated its first aid deliveries, but the outcomes have been disappointing. Anat Pelid reflects:

“I would say that the system is characterized right now by violence and chaos and disorder.” [11:24]

The organization has paused operations for reorganization, planning to reopen with potential improvements. However, the prevailing outlook remains bleak. Anat Pelid conveys the grim reality for Gaza's residents:

“I don't think it's looking very good. People are trying to survive. It's just a really low moment right now.” [21:40]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a somber reflection on the dire circumstances in Gaza. Despite international efforts and new aid initiatives like the GHF, the combination of ongoing conflict, logistical challenges, and security issues continues to impede effective humanitarian assistance. The voices of Gaza's civilians underscore the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire and a more equitable aid distribution system to alleviate the suffering of millions caught in this prolonged conflict.

Notable Quotes

• Jessica Mendoza: “Violence has broken out twice this week as Palestinians made their way to a distribution Center. More than 40 Gazans have been killed trying to get aid.” [01:29]
• Anat Pelid: “The situation is pretty bad. A lot of people are living in tents. There's very little food.” [02:21]
• Mohammed Nahal: “He saw dead people around him, including his cousin, who was shot, he says was killed.” [17:16]
• Ayman Al Gharib: “They began to be fired at around 3am... he also saw a person next to him who he said was killed.” [18:54]
• Anat Pelid: “It's just been such chaos this past week.” [21:40]

Additional Reporting

This episode includes additional reporting by Suha Maaya and Abeerayoub, providing comprehensive insights into the complexities of delivering humanitarian aid in conflict zones.

---

For more episodes and detailed analyses on money, business, and power, visit The Journal by The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet.

Transcript

[Jessica Mendoza]

The Israel Hamas war in Gaza is Now in month 20 with no end in sight.

[Anat Pelid]

The war is grinding on and negotiations for a ceasefire for hostage exchange are officially ongoing. But we haven't seen any breakthrough yet.

[Jessica Mendoza]

That's our colleague, Anat Pelid. She's been covering the conflict in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis that's unfolding there. A crisis that's been getting worse. Last week, a controversial new plan was put in place to help distribute aid. It's backed by Israel and the US and it promises to deliver food to Palestinians in Gaza. But implementation has been mired in chaos and disorder.

[Anat Pelid]

So you have Gazans who are very hungry and desperate and all of them trying to make their way to these centers and get food, get boxes of. And what we've seen, you know, on the first day, the very first day of the launch, we saw large crowds break into one of the, you know, distribution sites and there was looting and there was chaos and the American staff had to retreat. And we know that the Israeli military fired warning shots.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Violence has broken out twice this week as Palestinians made their way to a distribution Center. More than 40 Gazans have been killed trying to get aid. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, rescue services and witnesses. The Israeli military says some people approached its troops on their way to the distribution site. The military fired warning shots as well as shots near individuals who failed to retreat. The military added it was reviewing reports of casualties. Delivering aid to people in Gaza has become one of the biggest challenges in the war, a conflict where the separation between combatants and civilians is blurred and no solution has worked. In the meantime, people are facing starvation. How bad is it? How bad is the humanitarian situation in Gaza? Right now?

[Anat Pelid]

The situation is pretty bad. A lot of people are living in tents. There's very little food. So we're seeing kind of a state of chaos as Hamas kind of also loses some sort of grip on the Strip or, you know, it's weakened. There's just kind of a breakdown.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Welcome to the Journal, our show about money, business and power. I'm Jessica mendoza. It's Wednesday, June 4th. Coming up on the show, deaths, disorder and a controversial humanitarian aid plan in Gaza.

[Sponsor]

This episode is brought to you by US Bank. They don't just cheer you on, they help every move count. With U.S. bank's smartly checking and savings account to help track your spending and grow your savings, your finances can go further. Because when you have the right partner on your side, there's no limit to what you can achieve. That's the power of us. Visit usbank.com today to learn more. Copyright 2025 US Bank Are you a forward thinker?

Then you need an HR and finance platform that thinks like you do. Workday is the AI platform that helps propel your organization, your workforce and your industry into the future. Workday moving business forever forward.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Humanitarian aid has been a flashpoint in Gaza since the start of the war.

[Sponsor]

Against Hamas in Gaza.

[Jessica Mendoza]

And the humanitarian toll on its population has been devastating.

[Sponsor]

According to the United Nations, 90% of Gazans are displaced.

[Anat Pelid]

The aid and the food and all of this is at the same time center of the debate about this conflict. I mean, we had statements from Israeli officials at the start of this war after October 7, 2023, when Israel was in shock and it was a very bloody day. And basically people were making statements like, no aid should enter Gaza. And American officials have tried to push for more aid, but it's been a.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Constant back and forth for much of the conflict. The United nations has been responsible for distributing aid at hundreds of sites across Gaza.

[Anat Pelid]

What the UN would do is it has trucks of aid and it would basically get it in the Strip and then it would get it to around 400 distribution sites, so all across the Strip, and it would get to Gazans. The problem is that Israel has said that a lot of that aid was stolen by Hamas and that that's a big issue because it's trying to destroy Hamas.

[Jessica Mendoza]

The Israeli government said that Hamas steals aid to support its war effort, which the group denies. Humanitarian groups, including the un, claim that Israel limits aid, turning it into a weapon of war. Israel denies the claim.

[Anat Pelid]

Basically, the UN was saying not enough trucks are going in. They would count it by trucks. The aim was like hundreds. But there was just a bit of back and forth also between the UN and Israel, kind of both sides kind of accusing each other of being responsible for not enough aid going in.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Throughout the war, the situation led to major shortages in food and other necessities, and this made getting aid into Gaza incredibly dangerous. By mid-2024, aid trucks and storage depots became targets for Palestinian smugglers. UN and Israeli officials said gunmen would overrun trucks and loot them as they entered the Strip. Humanitarian groups said the looting was only done by desperate people. Israel argued that it was done by criminals and by Hamas. In January, there was a reprieve when Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. As part of that deal, more aid flowed into Gaza.

[Anat Pelid]

During that time, aid was surging. We had hundreds of trucks a day, and that was a time when there wasn't fighting and Gazans Started to feel like maybe things were gonna. Were looking up. And they started to get food that they hadn't seen in the. You know, things like fruit, meat. You know, things like that are never, never really common.

[Jessica Mendoza]

The ceasefire ended in March, and soon after, Israel imposed a blockade, during which no aid, medicine or fuel entered Gaza. Israeli officials said the idea was to pressure Hamas to release hostages, but it also led to widespread hunger, according to residents and aid groups. Israel faced international pressure to lift the blockade, which it did last month. But the humanitarian crisis continued. In an effort to address the issue, Israel announced a new plan, one that had been in the works for months. Aid would begin flowing into Gaza through a new group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Can you tell us about them? Who are they and who funds them?

[Anat Pelid]

There's a lot of question marks about this new aid plan. So we know it's basically an Israeli American plan. The Gaza Humanitarian foundation is a private entity that's kind of overseeing this whole aid operation. So it's basically registered in the US currently, and they are basically leading the whole effort. But they've also had some crises going into this. There was the resignation of Jake Wood, who was the chief of the foundation. And there's a lot of questions about the funding. We don't know where the funding comes from. That's the bottom line. We've had some Israeli politicians, lawmakers from the opposition, suggest that Israel is funding some of this. They have not provided, you know, proof of that. So there's a lot of question marks about who is funding this. And there's also the question of how involved Israel is, which seems, you know, based on my conversations with people familiar and former officials, it seems that Israel did have a big role in this.

[Jessica Mendoza]

And how does the aid system under the Gaza Humanitarian foundation, ghf, work? We talked earlier about how the UN had, like, hundreds of distribution centers. How is this different?

[Anat Pelid]

Yeah, so this is radically different. So what we have is GHF has set up right now four. It has four plan centers. So you have three in Rafah and southern Gaza on an Israeli constructed corridor called Morag, and then you have another one on an Israeli constructed corridor called the Tzarim, which is more in the center of Gaza. So first of all, we don't have sites in the north at the moment, which is an issue, because before there were many possibilities to go get aid, but now it's trickier, especially if you can't move or something like that.

[Jessica Mendoza]

To distribute aid, GHF relies on a private security company called Safe Reach Solutions, or srs, the company is based in.

[Anat Pelid]

The US and they are working with ghf and they are basically tasked with with delivering the aid. So what we see is, we've also seen this in videos and we know this from our reporting. It's a lot of former American vets, including from Afghanistan and Iraq. And they are also on the ground in Gaza, helping secure the aid site itself, monitoring security cameras and other such things.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Why them? Do they have any experience doing this kind of work? It sounds sort of unusual for a security company to be administering aid.

[Anat Pelid]

It is unusual. We're not quite sure why they were selected. They're pretty new in the game. They did one thing which the Israeli government sees as kind of a proof of concept, but they were actually securing a corridor called Netzerim in the center of Gaza, which kind of bisects the strip, the north and the south. And they were securing it during the latest ceasefire. So that is their experience, but we don't know much else about them.

[Jessica Mendoza]

A spokesperson for SRS said that it's supported by highly trained specialists, including people with decades of experience in conflict zones. In the lead up to the launch of GHF's new system, more than 20 countries and aid groups have criticized the plan, saying it puts people unnecessarily at risk and can't meet the needs of the population. Critics are also concerned about Israel's involvement in the distribution of aid.

[Anat Pelid]

Israeli troops are stationed nearby the actual aid distribution center. They don't go in. The Americans are there, but they're nearby. And that is a concern because that didn't happen under the UN system. There were no kind of, you know, Israeli troops nearby.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Still, the plan for GHF to deliver aid to Palestinians went ahead. In late May, GHF made its first deliveries into Gaza. Overall, how would you say that's going?

[Anat Pelid]

Not very well. I would say that the system is characterized right now by violence and chaos and disorder.

[Jessica Mendoza]

That's next.

[Sponsor]

This episode is brought to you by indeed. When your fridge stops working, you don't sit around waiting for all your food to spoil. You find a solution. So why wait to hire the people your company desperately needs? Use indeed sponsored jobs to find great talent fast. It moves your job posts to the top of the page, so it's the first thing relevant candidates see when they start searching. And it truly does make a difference. Sponsored jobs receive 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs, according to Indeed data. Plus, with sponsored jobs, there are no monthly subscriptions or long term contracts. You're only paying for results. There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed. Listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com journal. That's Indeed.com journal right now. And support the show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com journal terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

This episode is brought to you by Uber. You know that feeling when someone shows up for you just when you need it most? That's what Uber is all about. It's not just a ride or dinner at your door. It's how Uber helps you show up for the moments that matter. Because showing up can turn a tough day around or make a good one even better. Like running late, breakup ice cream, cram session, snacks, job firing, commiserations, birthday surprise squad concert, buddy duty, Granny's birthday, or just Taco Tuesday. Whatever it is, big or small, Uber is on the way. So you can be on your way to what matters most to you. Uber On Our Way.

[Jessica Mendoza]

As part of its new aid system, the Gaza Humanitarian foundation plans to open four distribution centers in Gaza. The UN and other humanitarian groups previously had hundreds of sites all over the Strip. Last week, GHF opened its first distribution site in Rafah, where the group planned to hand out food directly to Gazan families. Thousands of Palestinians lined up to receive their first boxes of aid from the ghf. Could you walk us through just like what that process looks like on the ground? What do we know about how that all actually works?

[Anat Pelid]

Yeah, so from what our understanding, the centers are actually open for very limited hours and Gazans are claiming that the supplies runs out quite fast. So you know, there are boxes but there's no screening. So what happens is, you know, each person comes and it's not necessarily a situation where, you know, you get a full box or you even get a box. So what's been happening is that Gazans have been waking up really early. We spoke to someone who even went at midnight to try to go camp out there. People are desperate because sometimes people leave empty handed. They wait and it's chaotic and they don't get anything.

[Jessica Mendoza]

A person briefed on the issue said that Safe Reach Solutions, the security company mentioned earlier, has run into coordination problems and has tried to apply lessons from their experience in Iraq and Afghanistan that don't necessarily translate to Gaza. For example, SRS assumed that crowds collecting aid would be orderly. But with many Gazans facing severe food insecurity, massive and chaotic crowds have converged at distribution sites. The chaos also turned into violence on Sunday as Palestinians gathered to receive aid and fought over boxes of food.

[Anat Pelid]

On Sunday, we had an incident where basically large, large crowds were making their way again to the one distribution center that's open in Rafah. And what happened is a lot of people made their way early and about what the Israeli military says is a kilometer away from the distribution center. The Israeli military fired warning shots at the crowd who posed a threat to the troops, they say. And, you know, we don't know exactly what happened. We spoke to several witnesses, but we do know from Palestinian health officials and medics that, you know, there were injured people, there were killed people over 20.

[Jessica Mendoza]

GHF says that no shooting took place at its distribution center. That violence continued into this week. On Tuesday, a similar situation took place near the same distribution center.

[Anat Pelid]

This time we had very large crowds again making their way to the One Open distribution center, which was set to open at 5am so GHF on its social media said to Gazans, don't come before. It's not allowed come on the designated routes. But we spoke to Gazans who said that one person had camped out, came starting at midnight. Other people came at 2:30am Just trying to get food. And around the same area, about half a kilometer away from the distribution center, according to the military. The military said that it fired warning shots again at crowds that were getting too close. And then when they didn't listen, it continued to fire and they deviated, it said, from the designated routes. So now we're just seeing a really dangerous situation where this has happened several days in a row. The Israeli military also says it's important to note that it claims that Palestinian gunmen have also been opening fire.

[Jessica Mendoza]

To get a better understanding of what's happening at the aid centers, Anat and our colleagues have been talking to eyewitnesses who were there.

[Anat Pelid]

So the first person we spoke to was Mohammed Nahal. He's 44, and he's from Khan Younis. And he left his tent at 2:30am and he went with his cousin Mahmoud. And basically they started, you know, going early, and they were waiting for 5am when the center would open. But then about, you know, 100 meters from a roundabout called Alam roundabout, they said that they suddenly got fired upon from all directions. He saw dead people around him, including his cousin, who was shot, he says was killed. The second person that we spoke to was Ayman Al Gharib from Rafah, and he's living in a tent with his three children. 42. He actually left at midnight, as early as midnight. He said he wanted to secure a spot in line early because, you know, once the site opens, the crowds rush and, you know, there's no proper system. He said his kids are hungry and want aid.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Okay.

[Anat Pelid]

And then basically, he said that they began to be fired at around 3am and, you know, it was coming from all directions. Wow. Yeah. And he also saw a person next to him who he said was killed. And, yeah, that is what we have from Ayman.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Did the witnesses say anything about sort of the situation in which they were fired on? I mean, you know, the Israeli military seems to be saying that these crowds are overwhelming them. They're getting too close. Did these eyewitnesses say anything about that at all? Did they dispute it?

[Anat Pelid]

So Ayman said that he did not deviate from the roots and that they didn't pose a danger. So that's what I know. Generally, I just. You know, it's just been very confusing.

[Jessica Mendoza]

What has GHF said about the violence?

[Anat Pelid]

GHF in general has presented the whole endeavor, the whole kind of launch of the AID plan as a success. It's talked about how many boxes it's been able to deliver. They count by meals during the past week. And they have also said that no shooting has taken place at their distribution sites, which, to our understanding, is true. To our understanding, the shooting has actually taken place near the distribution sites where GHF says that it's not responsible for securing that area. We know that from witnesses that the Americans who are kind of securing the actual compound itself, have used at times, riot prevention methods like smoke grenades, things like that, but no deaths or injuries.

[Jessica Mendoza]

And just broadly speaking, what have Palestinian civilians in Gaza said about the rollout? Do they feel like they're getting what they need? Is it a success? Is it a failure?

[Anat Pelid]

I think, in general, a lot of people we spoke to have said that the system is unfair. So there's no people can take. You can take as many. It's kind of whoever can grab the box faster. So there's no checks on who's taking. Maybe you come every day for. For several boxes, and maybe, you know, one person just isn't able to get any. I've talked to some people who are too scared to go because they think it's too dangerous. I mean, obviously, I think people are very happy to be getting food because, you know, it's a desperate situation.

[Jessica Mendoza]

Today the GHF paused its operations for the day for reorganization and improvements. The group says it will reopen on Thursday and Meanwhile, for Palestinians in Gaza, is there a sense that things might get better for them? Worse?

[Anat Pelid]

I don't think it's looking very good. People are trying to survive. It's just a really low moment right now. I think people are happy that aid is coming in, but it's just been such chaos this past week. And I'm sure they're hoping for better, but I think they really want a ceasefire, and we're not. It's not clear that that's going to happen immediately.

[Jessica Mendoza]

That's all for today. Wednesday, June 4 the Journal is a co production of Spotify and the Wall Street Journal. Additional reporting in this episode by Suha Maaya and Abeerayoub. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow.