New Aid Group to Start Up in Gaza      05/15 06:15

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new humanitarian organization that has U.S. backing to 
take over aid delivery to starving civilians in Gaza said Wednesday that it 
expects to begin operations before the end of the month -- after what it 
describes as key agreements from Israeli officials.

   A statement from the group, called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, 
identified several U.S. military veterans, former humanitarian coordinators and 
security contractors that it said would lead the delivery effort. Many in the 
aid community believe it is meant to supplant the distribution system now run 
by the U.N. and other international aid agencies.

   The foundation failed to address much of the criticism and unanswered 
questions that the international community has about the group, including who 
would fund the work and how much involvement the U.S., Israel or any other 
government or military would have in controlling life-saving aid for 
Palestinian civilians.

   In an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, Tom Fletcher, the U.N. 
humanitarian chief, said the U.S.-backed proposal is "far from being able to 
meet" the conditions of humanitarian law.

   "That's why we need to stick to the better plan, our plan A, which is just 
let us in. We can make sure this aid doesn't get anywhere near Hamas," Fletcher 
said, referencing Israeli accusations that the militant group is diverting 
supplies. "We have our procedures. We care more than anyone about making sure 
that it gets to the children and civilians and women who need it most."

   Israel has blocked food, fuel, medicine and all other supplies from entering 
Gaza for weeks, worsening a humanitarian crisis for 2.3 million Palestinians. 
Israel says the blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release the hostages it 
still holds and that it won't allow aid back in until a system is in place that 
gives it control over distribution.

   The U.N. and many aid groups have rejected Israel's efforts to control aid 
distribution, saying it would be all but impossible for a new startup group to 
meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza civilians after 19 months of food shortages 
and war.

   Aid groups say they also fear the attempt would violate humanitarian 
principles of operating independently with neutrality and impartiality.

   In Wednesday's statement, foundation executive director Jake Wood, a U.S. 
military veteran and co-founder of an existing disaster relief group called 
Team Rubicon, said the commitment to starting operations within weeks follows 
discussions with Israeli officials.

   Wood indicated Israelis had agreed to allow the foundation to deliver aid 
through existing systems in Gaza temporarily while the group builds new 
distribution sites that Israel has demanded for aid.

   Israelis also have agreed to allow more sites to be constructed to allow aid 
distribution in all of Gaza, and look for ways to get aid to those too 
malnourished, maimed by fighting, too old or too young to travel long distances 
to one of the aid sides, the foundation's statement said.

   The foundation was in the "final stages" of gathering enough aid to serve 
300 million meals in the first 90 days of operation, Wood wrote.

   Israel's mission to the United Nations didn't immediately respond to 
messages seeking comment about the foundation's statement.