I landed in Jerusalem yesterday morning after a 14-hour flight from D.C., my fourth trip to the region since October. The dusty heat hit differently this time—the air charged with both anticipation and skepticism as news spread about the humanitarian coordination mechanism that officially began operations today.
“This transition has been months in the making,” a senior UN official told me as we stood at a monitoring facility overlooking one of the screening points. “But the real question is whether it will actually increase aid flow where previous efforts have failed.”
The Gaza Humanitarian Aid Group, backed by the United States, has now formally taken over coordination of humanitarian assistance entering the besieged territory. This new mechanism replaces the previous system that critics say was hampered by bureaucratic obstacles and security restrictions that severely limited aid delivery.
Since December, humanitarian conditions have deteriorated dramatically across Gaza, with the UN warning that famine conditions are present in northern areas. According to the World Food Programme, over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face acute food insecurity. The statistics are staggering, but they fail to capture the human reality.
In Rafah last month, I met Fatima, a mother of four who hadn’t received a full food parcel in weeks. “My children ask me when they will eat something besides dry bread,” she said, her voice steady but her hands trembling. “I have no answer for them anymore.”
The new mechanism emerged from negotiations involving U.S. officials, Israel, and international aid organizations after President Biden announced plans for a temporary pier to increase aid delivery. While the floating pier has since been dismantled following storm damage, the coordination system it helped create has evolved into this new entity.
“We’re trying to cut through the red tape while maintaining necessary security protocols,” explained James Carson, a State Department humanitarian affairs specialist involved in the transition. “The previous system simply wasn’t working at the scale required.”
The group will oversee screening procedures at the Kerem Shalom, Rafah, and Erez crossings, while coordinating deliveries from Jordan’s airport and potentially reopening additional entry points. Officials hope this streamlined approach will address the catastrophic shortfall in aid reaching civilians.
According to OCHA (UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), only a fraction of the needed 500 trucks daily have been entering Gaza in recent months. Aid workers I’ve spoken with repeatedly describe a system plagued by unpredictable closures, lengthy inspection procedures, and security restrictions that have paralyzed distribution networks.
Palestinian health officials report over 37,000 deaths in Gaza since October, with malnutrition and disease now claiming lives alongside continuing military operations. The health system has virtually collapsed, with only 16 of 36 hospitals partially functioning.
In Brussels last week, I attended a donor conference where European officials expressed frustration over the obstacles facing aid delivery. “We’ve committed billions in funding that simply cannot reach those who need it,” a Belgian diplomat told me during a coffee break. “This new mechanism must prove itself quickly or risk becoming just another layer of bureaucracy.”
Israel maintains that security concerns necessitate thorough inspection protocols, pointing to documented cases where Hamas has diverted aid. Military officials I interviewed emphasized that screening procedures are designed to prevent weapons smuggling while allowing humanitarian goods to pass.
“We have legitimate security concerns that cannot be dismissed,” an Israeli security official told me at a briefing near the Kerem Shalom crossing. “But we’re working with partners to improve efficiency while maintaining these essential safeguards.”
However, aid organizations question whether security protocols have been unnecessarily strict. Médecins Sans Frontières reported last week that medical supplies, including trauma kits and surgical equipment, have faced months-long clearance processes.
“There’s a difference between reasonable security measures and policies that effectively block vital assistance,” said Maria Hernandez, an MSF logistics coordinator I interviewed in East Jerusalem. “People are dying from treatable conditions because we can’t get supplies through.”
The Gaza Humanitarian Aid Group faces immediate challenges beyond just increasing volume. Infrastructure for distribution within Gaza has been devastated, with warehouses destroyed and UN vehicles targeted. Fuel restrictions have crippled transportation networks, while ongoing military operations have made many areas inaccessible.
Yesterday, I visited a warehouse in central Israel where pallets of aid sit waiting for clearance. “Some of these supplies have been here for weeks,” the facility manager told me, requesting anonymity. “The bottleneck isn’t just at the crossings—it’s the entire system.”
International pressure has mounted as humanitarian conditions worsen. The International Court of Justice ordered Israel in March to take all necessary measures to prevent genocide and ensure humanitarian assistance, while the UN Security Council has passed resolutions demanding unimpeded aid access.
Whether this new mechanism will substantively improve conditions remains uncertain. Aid workers I’ve spoken with express cautious optimism while emphasizing that success depends on political will more than administrative restructuring.
As the sun set over Jerusalem tonight, I spoke with Rami, a Palestinian truck driver who has transported aid into Gaza for over a decade. “We’ve seen many systems, many promises,” he said, lighting a cigarette. “What matters is not the name of who coordinates, but whether my truck gets through tomorrow with food that reaches hungry people.”
For millions in Gaza, that remains the only metric that matters.
