A US-backed aid organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), met with senior UN officials on Wednesday, marking their first direct engagement since its launch in late May. The meeting, held at the UN mission in New York, took place despite months of public exchanges between the UN and GHF.
The GHF was established by Israel and backed by the US to provide aid to Gaza. However, the UN has expressed concerns over the organization’s neutrality and ability to distribute aid effectively. In fact, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while attempting to reach GHF aid centers, which the UN claims are endangering civilians.
Prior to the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had instructed senior officials not to engage with GHF due to political sensitivities. However, on Wednesday, US diplomat Morgan Ortagus and GHF chair Johnnie Moore met alongside representatives from other aid organizations, including the World Food Program and International Red Cross.
The meeting resulted in no decisions on cooperation but did lead to a commitment to de-escalate public attacks between the UN and GHF. The two sides acknowledged that negotiations for a ceasefire are stuck, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moving towards expanding the war.
US President Donald Trump has made clear his intention to increase US aid to Gaza, while also expecting other countries to contribute more. However, progress remains slow, and humanitarian organizations report widespread starvation in Gaza, with at least 16 children under five having died of starvation-related illnesses since July 17.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/08/07/un-ghf-gaza-aid-meeting-starvation