UN says images of Gaza aid rush 'heartbreaking'; insists on 'operationally sound plan'

Displaced Palestinians receive food packages from a US-backed foundation pledging to distribute humanitarian aid in western Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 27, 2025.

Scenes from southern Gaza of thousands of people rushing a US-backed group's aid distribution site were "heartbreaking," UN chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman said Tuesday, insisting on an "operationally sound plan."

"We have been watching the video coming out of Gaza around one of the distribution points set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. And frankly, these video, these images, are heartbreaking to say the least," Stephane Dujarric said.

"As the Secretary-General noted last week, we and our partners have a detailed, principled, operationally sound plan supported by Member States to get aid to desperate population," he added.

Earlier in the day, the UN said it had no information on whether the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US-backed aid group, had actually delivered any supplies inside the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

The little-known group, which has stirred controversy since surfacing in early May, announced on Monday it had begun distributing truckloads of food in the Gaza Strip.

But officials from the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, and UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said they were unaware whether any aid had actually been distributed.

The UN and international aid agencies have said they will not cooperate with the GHF, amid accusations it is working with Israel without any Palestinian involvement.

Israel, which recently stepped up its offensive against militant group Hamas, drew international condemnation after implementing a blockade on March 2 that has sparked severe food and medical shortages.

Humanitarian aid has begun trickling back into Gaza in recent days after Israel lifted the 11-week blockade.

Touma said no UNRWA supplies had gone in since March 2, while Laerke said he had no information on how many UN trucks had passed through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the last 24 hours, partly because Israel does not allow them to have a fixed presence there.

UN officials have raised concerns the GHF could be used to "weaponise" aid by restricting who is eligible to receive it.

On Sunday, GHF executive director Jake Wood quit, saying it was impossible to do his job in line with humanitarian principles.

Hours later, GHF's board accused "those who benefit from the status quo" of attacking the group.

On Monday, GHF added: "It is clear that Hamas is threatened by this new operating model, and will do everything in its power to see it fail."

The UN's World Health Organization has also confirmed it will not be working with the GHF.