Watan-The Supreme Council for Tribal Affairs in the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday its rejection of cooperation with the U.S. company assigned to distribute humanitarian aid according to the Israeli vision, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining the UN’s role in this context.
This statement came after Israeli media reported that security personnel affiliated with the American company set to oversee aid distribution in Gaza had arrived at Ben Gurion Airport.
The council firmly rejected any foreign intervention that aims to undermine national sovereignty or bypass international institutions operating in Gaza—chief among them the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Gaza Council: U.S. Aid Firm Is a Red Line, UNRWA Must Stay
In its statement, the council said the attempt to introduce a U.S. company under the name “Gaza Relief” to take over the aid distribution is a “blatant violation of national and social trust and a dangerous prelude to dismantling the UN’s role in Gaza and replacing it with actors driven by political agendas.”
The statement warned strongly against the militarization of humanitarian work and turning aid into a means of control over Gaza under the guise of relief. “This company has no legitimate standing, and it is categorically rejected both publicly and tribally,” the statement read. “Its entry into Gaza is a red line.”
The council stressed that existing local and international institutions in Gaza—most notably UNRWA—have supported the population for decades and symbolize political and national identity. “Our commitment to UNRWA reflects our commitment to the right of return and to the defense of Palestinian existence,” the statement said. It also praised the Egyptian Red Crescent for its key role in facilitating aid during the war.
Gaza Council Rejects Israeli-Backed Aid Plan, Backs UNRWA as Sole Trusted Actor
“In the name of all families and tribes in Gaza,” the council declared, “we firmly reject any suspicious company that aims to dismantle our national and societal fabric. We fully support the international institutions working on the ground, primarily UNRWA, and we warn against any move that undermines our dignity or transfers our decision-making to outsiders.”
This comes after Israel revealed a new aid distribution plan for Gaza, which has faced broad Palestinian and international criticism. Observers argue that the plan fails to meet the needs of a population suffering from over two months of border closures, widespread hunger, and economic collapse. Critics say the Israeli initiative aims to seize full control over aid delivery to advance political and security agendas at the expense of urgent humanitarian needs.
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