The board of the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation stated just before midnight late on Sunday night that it is disappointed” by the “sudden” resignation of Jake Wood, the group’s executive director, some six hours prior.
“He has been a passionate advocate for the need to safely deliver humanitarian assistance to Gazans without diversion or delay, and achieved real progress for the entire humanitarian community in the short time he was involved in this effort,” the board stated. “The fact that aid is beginning to trickle back into Gaza is a testament to his work.”
The foundation is part of a plan to circumvent the United Nations and to deliver aid to Gazans without supplies falling into the hands of Hamas.
“Unfortunately, from the moment GHF was announced, those who benefit from the status quo have been more focused on tearing this apart than on getting aid in, afraid that new, creative solutions to intractable problems might actually succeed,” the foundation board stated.
“We will not be deterred,” it added. “Our trucks are loaded and ready to go. Beginning Monday, May 26, GHF will begin direct aid delivery in Gaza, reaching over 1 million Palestinians by the end of the week. We plan to scale rapidly to serve the full population in the weeks ahead.”
It added that the group will “deliver a practical, immediate and secure approach to delivering essential aid,” which “ensures the dignity of Gazans and that is fully consistent with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.”
A few minutes before 6 p.m. on Sunday, Wood stated that “two months ago, I was approached about leading GHF’s efforts because of my experience in humanitarian operations.”
“Like many others around the world, I was horrified and heartbroken at the hunger crisis in Gaza and, as a humanitarian leader, I was compelled to do whatever I could to help alleviate the suffering,” he stated.
The foundation was then “a loose constellation of various ideas and concepts among a wide range of stakeholders,” Wood stated, and he aimed to “establish it as a truly independent humanitarian entity.”
It became clear to him, he said, that it was impossible to implement the group’s plan to “feed hungry people, address security concerns about diversion and complement the work of longstanding NGOs in Gaza” while “strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, which I will not abandon.”
“I urge Israel to significantly expand the provision of aid into Gaza through all mechanisms, and I urge all stakeholders to continue to explore innovative new methods for the delivery of aid, without delay, diversion, or discrimination,” Wood stated.
“I continue to believe the only sustainable path for the long-term is for Hamas to release all hostages, for there to be a cessation of hostilities and a pathway for peace, security and dignity for all people in the region,” he added.