Israel not involved in Gaza food distribution under US aid plan: envoy

Israel would not be involved in food distribution under a US-led plan for the Gaza Strip but would provide "necessary military security", Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said on Friday.Huckabee spoke to reporters in Jerusalem a day after the US State Department said a new foundation would lead the distribution of humanitarian aid in war-battered Gaza, where an over two-month-long Israeli blockade has caused severe shortages of everything from food and clean water to fuel and medicine."The Israelis are going to be involved in providing necessary military security, because it is a war zone, but they will not be involved in the distribution of the food, or even in the bringing of the food into Gaza," the US ambassador said.The US-led initiative has been met with international criticism as it appears to sideline the United Nations and existing aid organisations, and would overhaul current humanitarian structures in Gaza.Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said the plan risks "militarising aid".Huckabee called upon the United Nations, "every NGO" and "every government" to take part."We invite people who have been concerned about it to join in this process," he said, expressing hope that the plan could be put into action "very soon".He offered no timetable for the aid operation or any further information about the non-governmental foundation that would be involved.Huckabee, a former Republican state governor and a vocal supporter of Israel, said there were "several partners who have already agreed to be a part of the effort", without naming them.Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza on March 2 amid an impasse in talks with Hamas, and resumed its military offensive on March 18, ending a two-month truce in the war triggered by the Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack.The truce saw a surge in aid entering the territory while Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody.Huckabee said that under the US plan, Israeli forces would provide security "at a distance from the distribution point to protect them from the ongoing calculus of the war", while "security... at the distribution points provided by contractors".Despite fears of looming famine, Israel denies a humanitarian crisis is unfolding and accuses Hamas of diverting aid sent to Gaza.Huckabee also blamed Hamas for the situation, and said that there was "obviously... a humanitarian crisis. That's why we need a humanitarian aid programme going in".Naim, the Hamas official, said that "the Trump administration is eager to improve its image in the region ahead of the scheduled visit" of the US president to several Gulf states next week.But in essence, Naim added, "the proposed American plan is not far from the Israeli vision of militarising aid."The Israeli military earlier this week outlined plans for a broader assault in Gaza after more than 19 months of war, which European governments, China, UN agencies and NGOs have voiced alarm over.