U.S. and Israel Plan New Food Distribution Centers in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Crisis

On July 28, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a collaborative initiative between the United States and Israel to establish new food distribution centers in the Gaza Strip, aiming to address the escalating humanitarian crisis marked by severe hunger and malnutrition. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that Israel would manage the centers to ensure proper aid distribution. However, specifics of the initiative remain unclear, with the White House referring to it as a "new aid plan" without providing further details.

This announcement signifies a notable shift in U.S. policy, diverging from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's previous assertions that there is no starvation in Gaza. Trump's remarks suggest a recalibration of U.S. policy in response to mounting international pressure and disturbing images of suffering in the region.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been deteriorating, with reports indicating that the death toll has surpassed 60,000 due to ongoing conflict and deteriorating living conditions. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has warned that without immediate intervention, the crisis may become irreversible. As of July 2025, more than 320,000 children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition, with thousands suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of undernutrition. Essential nutrition services have collapsed, leaving infants without access to safe water, breastmilk substitutes, and therapeutic feeding.

Critics, including Senator Tim Kaine, have questioned why established aid organizations are not being utilized for this initiative, expressing concerns over the effectiveness and safety of the proposed distribution method. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which began operations on May 26, 2025, has faced significant challenges in distributing aid. By June 2025, GHF reported distributing 2.6 million meals daily, the highest daily output since the start of its operations. However, these efforts cover less than half of Gaza's nutritional needs. The distribution centers are located in evacuation zones, areas where Palestinians were ordered to leave before and which they have to re-enter to get aid, posing significant risks to those seeking assistance.

Since late May, more than 1,000 people have been killed while trying to access food in Gaza, the majority near GHF aid sites. The IPC and UN figures indicate that the distribution sites are located in militarized zones where less than a quarter of the population resides, forcing Palestinians to embark on long, high-risk journeys to collect food items that are not ready to eat and require water and fuel to cook, which are largely unavailable.

The United Kingdom has announced it will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 unless Israel implements key measures, including a ceasefire, unhindered aid delivery into Gaza, and assurances against West Bank annexation. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that Israel must also commit to a long-term peace plan supporting a two-state solution.

This development has significant implications for U.S. foreign policy, international relations, and the ongoing humanitarian efforts in the Middle East. The U.S.-Israel collaboration to establish new food distribution centers in Gaza represents a significant policy shift aimed at addressing the severe humanitarian crisis. However, the initiative faces criticism and operational challenges, raising questions about its effectiveness and the broader implications for international relations and humanitarian efforts in the region.