Gaza humanitarian group official resigns; cites lack of independence
The Hindu
Jake Wood resigns as head of U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, citing principles of humanity, impartiality, and independence.
The head of a U.S.-backed private humanitarian organization tasked with distributing aid in Gaza through an Israeli-initiated plan resigned on Sunday (May 25, 2025), saying he could not abandon principles of humanity, impartiality and independence.
Jake Wood, executive director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation for the past two months, said he resigned because it could not adhere "to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon."
Mr. Wood's statement did not provide more details and the former U.S. Marine did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, the Foundation's board said it was "disappointed" by Wood's departure, but vowed not to be deterred from efforts to reach the enclave's entire population in coming weeks.
"Our trucks are loaded and ready to go," it said, adding that GHF would begin direct aid delivery in Gaza from Monday to reach more than one million Palestinians by the end of the week.
"We plan to scale rapidly to serve the full population in the weeks ahead."
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said it remained supportive of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's plans to begin to deliver aid soon and underscored that U.S. President Donald Trump had said the Palestinians badly needed help.
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