Gaza relief initiative unravels as senior officials quit, advisory firm withdraws

[Israeli]

Gaza relief initiative unravels as senior officials quit, advisory firm withdraws
Amid civilian casualties and organizational setbacks, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation continues food distribution in southern Gaza; Key partners like BCG have pulled out, while global aid groups criticize the operation’s links to Israeli authorities and its lack of humanitarian independence

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which launched a high-profile food distribution initiative in the Strip and was initially met with some enthusiasm among the local population, has encountered major obstacles during its first week of operation. Alongside reports of deadly shooting incidents—allegedly involving IDF fire on civilians collecting aid—two senior figures from the foundation have resigned, and leading humanitarian groups, including the UN, have refused to participate.

Sources familiar with the initiative told the Washington Post that GHF is now struggling to function without its core team, particularly following the withdrawal of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the global consulting firm that had served as a critical operational partner.

On Friday, BCG announced it was terminating its contract with GHF and withdrawing its personnel from Tel Aviv. One senior partner involved in the project was placed on leave, pending an internal review. According to the Washington Post, BCG had effectively been the engine of the project—designing the logistics model, determining operating costs, and coordinating the contractors who built four distribution centers in southern Gaza. Although BCG insisted it had offered its services pro bono, other sources claimed the firm submitted invoices exceeding $1 million per month.

Source : https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bynnhd2zex#autoplay

[Israeli]

1. Lapid suggests Israel funding foreign 'shell companies' distributing Gaza aid; PM spokesperson denies

By Sam Sokol
and Nava Freiberg
26 May 2025, 5:17 pm

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accuses the government of secretly funding humanitarian aid for Gaza through two foreign “shell companies,” an assertion quickly denied by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Our job is to ask the government tough questions, and with such a question I take the podium today: Is the State of Israel behind two shell companies established in Switzerland and the United States, GHF and SRS, to organize and finance humanitarian aid in Gaza?” Lapid asks from the Knesset rostrum ahead of a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu’s office confirmed this morning that the distribution of assistance under the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) had begun, launching a system that Israel says is meant to keep aid from being diverted to the Hamas terror group.

While technically an American company, GHF was established in close coordination with Israeli authorities. Aid groups and the UN have refused to cooperate with the new initiative, saying it would create even more displacement of the Palestinian population, fail to meet local needs, and violate humanitarian principles that prohibit a warring party from controlling humanitarian assistance.

GHF has published a 14-page document detailing its distribution plan, including the names of those leading the project. Two American companies, Safe Reach Solutions (SRS) and UG Solutions, were selected to serve as onsite contractors.

According to The New York Times, the project wasn’t simply built in coordination with Israel, but is “an Israeli brainchild” proposed during a 2023 meeting of “like-minded officials, military officers and business people with close ties to the Israeli government.”

According to a separate Haaretz report published yesterday, SRS entered Gaza without security clearance from the Shin Bet, as is the procedure.

“Could it be that the Israeli security services were sent by the prime minister and the finance minister to move Israeli funds abroad, so that they would return to Gaza as humanitarian aid?” Lapid asks, noting that GHF CEO Jake Wood resigned yesterday. Wood said it is “clear that this program cannot be implemented while strictly adhering to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.”

“The important word here is ‘independence,'” Lapid states. “Jake Wood understood that he was being played. The big question is whether we are not being played too. If this money is Israeli, if it comes from the state treasury, the State of Israel should not and cannot hide it.”

To hide the source of the money would constitute a “fraud” against the Israeli people and “one of the greatest acts of political folly in the history of the state,” he continues.

“If our tax money is buying humanitarian aid, financing food and medicine for children in Gaza, let’s profit from it in the international arena” by announcing it, he says.

“The Israeli government should have some dignity, say out loud that it funds these two organizations, and do the thing it hates to do the most: take responsibility for the things it does, and bear the consequences.”

In a swift reaction, Netanyahu spokesperson Omer Dostri says: “Israel does not fund the humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. Israel and the United States are working in full coordination and through various channels to cut off aid from reaching Hamas.”

Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/lapid-suggests-israel-funding-foreign-shell-companies-distributing-gaza-aid-pm-spokesperson-denies/

[AloeVera]

3. Whoa, this is new information we don't get to read in the Western press... thanks.

I have an issue with Lapid's views on why Israel should announce if Israel is funding GHF. He seems to be saying that, if Israel is doing it, it should "profit" from the good publicity as an apparent benefactor of Gaza's children. I'm sorry but what the hell?

The principle of humanitarianism refers to the exclusion of a warring party to humanitarian aid efforts. Does Lapid not recognize the violation of this principle if what he accuses the Israeli government of is true?

To be frank, I also find it odd that Lapid seems not to understand the severity of international revulsion at what Israel under Netanyahu has done to Gaza. The announcement of such a scheme would be seen not just as unseemly and self-promoting, but hypocritical and bizarre. Orwellian even.

[Israeli]

4. I could give you so much more

but the problem is we hear everything on the radio and television news
then it comes out on the written media the next day ....but in Hebrew .
Takes time for it to reach the english media and most times it doesnt

Everything is politics , Lapid was addressing us not the international media .
He wants to bring this government down and he will use everything and anything to do
so .....and good luck to him .

Whats ironic is that it looks like the Haredim are about to bring the gov down , ironic
because Lapid hates the Haredim just like his late father did .

See : https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/haredi-leaders-said-to-tell-utj-to-bolt-coalition-opposition-parties-to-submit-knesset-dissolution/

Haredi leaders tell UTJ to bolt coalition; opposition to submit Knesset dissolution bill

In response to the reports, opposition parties Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu and The Democrats say they will submit a bill for the Knesset’s dissolution next Wednesday, giving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a week to try to resolve the issue, in addition to the period it would take for the bill to be voted on by the parliament.

Both Shas and UTJ, the two Haredi parties in the Knesset, had demanded the passage of the controversial military draft legislation by the Shavuot holiday, which this year ended on June 2, warning that any delay would endanger the government’s continued existence.

[sabbat hunter]

5. What are the odds

that the current coalition will fall next week?

[Israeli]

6. I wouldnt bet on it just yet

I would put higher odds on Bibi finding a way out , its what he is an
expert at , probably by replacing Edelstein.
Much depends on Shas .
If they fall expect elections either end of October or April/May .

Two links for more info :

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byhxiatfgg

https://archive.md/E0BTn

[Israeli]

8. Odds just got much better .....

Shas vows to support dissolving Knesset in upcoming vote: ‘We are disappointed with Netanyahu’

Today, 9:25 am

A spokesman for the ultra-Orthodox Shas party says it will vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset on Wednesday.

“As things stand, we will vote on Wednesday in favor of dissolving the Knesset, Shas spokesman Asher Medina says in an interview with the Kol Beramah radio station.

Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/shas-vows-to-support-dissolving-knesset-in-upcoming-vote-we-are-disappointed-with-netanyahu/

Bibi has two days left to convince all the ultra-orthodox parties otherwise .
Interesting times politically sabbat hunter

[sabbat hunter]

9. Best bet coaltion

I think that could happen to get bibi out of power would be

Yisrael Beytenu, the National Unity Party, the Democrats, Yesh Atid. Probably would be a bare minimum of 61 or 62 mandates, unless they get the Arab-Israeli party(ies) to back them without joining the coalition.

The National Unity Party, The Democrats, and Yesh Atid probably should run on a joint list of some sort in order to amass the most seats possible.

[Israeli]

10. Its too early yet to talk about the next coalition

UPDATE :

Report: Opposition leaders to meet for final decision on whether to submit bill to dissolve Knesset

Leaders of opposition parties are set to meet this morning to make a final decision on whether to submit the bill to dissolve the Knesset, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

By law, if the vote fails, parties would have to wait six months before bringing another Knesset dissolution bill to the floor.

According to Kan, Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman is determined that the bill be brought for a vote, even without the support of Shas, which is working hard behind the scenes to postpone the vote and prevent the fall of the government.

The meeting comes as it remains unclear which, if either, of the Haredi parties will ultimately vote for the legislation.

With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline coalition currently holding 68 out of the 120 parliamentary seats, both Shas and United Torah Judaism would need to back the measure.

The two parties have publicly said that they will vote for the measure in its preliminary reading due to the coalition’s failure to pass legislation exempting yeshiva students from military service.

Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-opposition-leaders-to-meet-for-final-decision-on-whether-to-submit-bill-to-dissolve-knesset/

Lots of wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes .

The biggest threat to Bibi right now is Naftali Bennett .
Likud are doing there best to defame him and keep him out of the next elections .

See : Bennett’s new political party completes registration process

Naftali Bennett’s temporarily named “Bennett 2026” political party has completed the official registration process, allowing the former prime minister to run for the next Knesset without having to pay off the debts of his old Yamina party, Kan reports.

Responding to the report, Social Equality Minister May Golan of Likud accuses Bennett of having stolen the votes of rightwing voters in the last election and says that he is only running for office in order to access taxpayer money in order to pay for “another renovation in the basement of the villa in Ra’anana.”

Bennett’s party is currently polling ahead of Likud, despite having no members announced beyond Bennett himself.

In 2022, then prime minister Bennett’s office rejected a media report that alleged extravagant spending at his Ra’anana home, saying its expenses were far lower than those of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bennett, who led the now-defunct right-wing Yamina party, has been out of office since the 2022 collapse of his diverse coalition government, which in 2021 ousted Prime Minister Netanyahu from the premiership after 12 consecutive years, following a period of political turmoil that saw four national elections held in three years.

A Channel 12 poll published last week found that the anti-Netanyahu bloc, if led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett and his newly registered party, would win 72 Knesset seats if elections were held today.

Source : https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bennett-s-new-political-party-completes-registration-process/ar-AA1Gj7wz?ocid=BingNewsVerp

As for this "" The National Unity Party, The Democrats, and Yesh Atid probably should run on a joint list of some sort in order to amass the most seats possible. ""............

The National Unity Party is finished , Yair Lapid refused Yair Golan's offer , big mistake .....we are way ahead of Yesh Atid in the polls .

See : Yair Golan urges center-left merger for ousting Netanyahu, but Lapid uninterested

Source : https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/yair-golan-urges-center-left-merger-for-ousting-netanyahu-but-lapid-uninterested/ar-AA1FIyil?ocid=BingNewsVerp

[sabbat hunter]

12. Why is

Yair Lapid shooting himself in the foot and rejecting the offer from Yair Golan? Bennett joining the race with a new party, which is a bit of a sneaky way to avoid paying off debts, throws a bit of a wrench in to things. But if I am reading things correctly, it would strengthen an anti-Bibi coalition.

[Israeli]

14. Good question

it deserves a good answer
dont have the time right now , will answer when I can .

[Israeli]

15. Why is Yair Lapid shooting himself in the foot and rejecting the offer from Yair Golan?

Lots of reasons .
(remember tho its pure politics and tomorrow he could very well change his mind .)

Lapid has a huge ego , sharing power isnt his thing , especially if Golan gets more seats than he does .

Lapid represents the middle class and money .......there is no ideology apart from that .

Read this ......

https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/israels-complicit-center/

Lapid has lost touch with reality .......the reality today is whats happening on the streets .

[Israeli]

11. Breaking news ....

On critical day for coalition, Netanyahu says he’s not feeling well and cuts court testimony short

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cross-examination at a hearing in his criminal trial in the Tel Aviv District Court is cut short one hour into his testimony, after the prime minister said he was feeling unwell.

Today could be a critical day for Netanyahu and his coalition, with opposition parties announcing they will bring to a preliminary vote a bill to dissolve Knesset and hold early elections, amid a crisis between the prime minister and his ultra-Orthodox allies.

The Haredi parties have threatened to back the dissolution of the Knesset due to the government’s failure to pass legislation reinstating blanket military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.

Netanyahu will likely need to work hard during the course of the day to try to stave off the crisis in his coalition.

Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/on-critical-day-for-coalition-netanyahu-says-hes-not-feeling-well-and-cuts-court-testimony-short/

[sabbat hunter]

13. I am sure

Bibi will find new and interesting ways to avoid testifying in the case(s) against him.

[Israeli]

7. Report: Israel contributed NIS 700m to Gaza aid mechanism it claims not to fund

Prime Minister’s Office denies Kan’s assertion that funds were transfered quietly to prevent public from knowing

By ToI Staff
Today, 6:23 am

The Israeli government has set aside hundreds of millions of shekels to fund the new humanitarian aid mechanism in the Gaza Strip, Kan news reported Wednesday, contradicting government officials who have insisted that Israel has no part in its funding.

According to the report, the government approved the transfer of NIS 700 million (some $280 million) last month to an unclear source, identified by the government only as “the defense establishment.”

Citing unnamed officials, Kan reported that the money was being used to fund the new aid mechanism, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and that the decision to transfer the funds was made under the radar in an attempt to keep the public from finding out — ostensibly since doing so would be highly unpopular with the government’s hard-right base.

The Israel- and US-backed GHF began operating in Gaza late last month, with Jerusalem saying it would serve as an alternative to previous aid distribution mechanisms, as a way to prevent Hamas from hoarding aid and using it to control the population.

At the same time the organization and US officials have maintained that it is an independent and neutral body.

The government has insisted that it has no part in funding GHF, which has faced scrutiny due to the lack of information regarding its funds.

The organization claimed to have received more than $100 million in commitments from a foreign government donor but did not name the donor.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid suggested last week that the government was secretly funding the aid group through foreign “shell companies,” but this was quickly shot down by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Israel does not fund the humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Omer Dostri said. “Israel and the United States are working in full coordination and through various channels to cut off aid from reaching Hamas.”

In response to the Kan report, the Prime Minister’s Office and the office of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich insisted that the country “is not funding humanitarian aid to Gaza.”

The New York Times reported late last month that the organization was conceived by several Israelis, including businessmen with close links to the government. The report said the project wasn’t merely built in coordination with Israel, but is “an Israeli brainchild.”

The idea was first proposed in late 2023 at “private meetings of like-minded officials, military officers and business people with close ties to the Israeli government” who believed the government lacked a long-term Gaza strategy, the report said.
The report posited that the “project’s genesis” occurred when “hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians rejoined the military as reservists, many of them reaching positions of influence,” following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks.

This created “a huge cohort of Israelis with one foot in the military and another in civilian life, blurring the boundary between the two worlds.”

Continued @ https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-israel-contributed-nis-700m-to-gaza-aid-mechanism-it-claims-not-to-fund/

[AloeVera]

2. Don't worry, Dr. Johnnie Moore, Evangelical Pastor Friend of Israel and Trump Advisor has been appointed head of GHF.

He will make everything all right with God's help.

I honestly don't know how to respond anymore to anything except with bitter sarcasm. Such is the state of my soul these days.

Thanks for the post. As you know, the vicinity of these non-humanitarian "aid centres" have been turned into killing fields over the last few days. Exactly as the UN and others warned about. It is to weep.

Thanks for this info.

Edited to add link:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/03/gaza-humanitarian-foundation-chair-johnnie-moore