In an attempt to get around the terror group, Israeli officials were closely involved in the establishment of a new organization called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) advancing a new initiative where aid will only be distributed from a small number of sites in southern Gaza that are secured by American contractors.

Only pre-approved representatives will be allowed to pick up food once every other week from the distribution sites before carrying the boxes to a separate part of a newly established humanitarian zone surrounding the flattened city of Rafah.

“I’ve heard criticisms of that plan. We’re open to an alternative if someone has a better one,” Rubio said, in what did not appear to be a strong endorsement of GHF, which a day earlier issued its inaugural statement.

“We are for all the aid we can get… without Hamas being able to steal it from people,” Rubio added, asserting that the conflict in Gaza would end if Hamas surrendered. “We’re not immune or in any way insensitive to the suffering of the people of Gaza,” the secretary insisted.

“There’s a plan out there that’s been offered — that’s been criticized by some — but it allows people to get aid without Hamas stealing it.
And we’ll continue to work toward that in ways that we think are constructive and productive,” he added.

Trump officials haven’t just provided rhetorical backing to GHF they have met in recent days with representatives from UN agencies and other international aid organizations, pressuring them to cooperate with the initiative and, in at least one case, threatening to cut funding from groups that refuse.

On Wednesday, GHF announced that it would begin operating in the enclave by the end of May and that Israel would lift its over two-month blockade in the interim. The GHF statement also did not address who would fund the initiative.