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The Trump administration is pressing the United Nations, aid organizations and U.S. allies to participate in new Israeli plan to resume distribution of limited amounts of humanitarian assistance in Gaza under conditions that Jerusalem will strictly control, according to aid officials and other people familiar with internal discussions.
The U.S. effort comes as the United Nations and virtually all other organizations have refused to participate in a plan they have described as against "fundamental humanitarian principles" and violating international law.
The office of the U.N. coordinator for humanitarian affairs made that position official in a briefing paper circulated to aid partners over the last 24 hours. "After careful consideration, consultation and analysis" it said, they all have "decided not to participate in this modality."
The statement drew a harsh response from Israel. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Danny Danon, Israel's U.N. ambassador, said that "instead of having a dialogue with us or trying to understand what is the proposal ... the U.N. decided to put out a statement that they will not engage."
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy, met with members of the U.N. Security Council at the U.S. mission to the United Nations on Wednesday to discuss the Gaza plan. The administration has held a number of meetings with aid organizations who have been involved in Gaza relief operations in recent days. Another group of aid organizations based in Europe has been invited to a meeting with U.S. officials in Geneva on Thursday, aid officials said.
Administration officials declined to comment on efforts to gain approval for the Israeli aid proposal. Trump said Monday that people in Gaza "are starving and we are going to help them get some food."
Trump, who said during his presidential campaign that he would bring a quick end to the Gaza crisis, plans to travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week. On Wednesday, he told reporters to expect a major announcement on Gaza "probably in the next 24 hours."
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