Controversial Evangelical Pastor Johnnie Moore Appointed Head of “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation”

Watan-The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has appointed right-wing evangelical pastor Johnnie Moore as its new president. Moore is a known advocate of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza and transform the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He also sits on the board of a U.S.-based Christian-Jewish organization that funds and facilitates Jewish immigration to Israel as part of a biblical prophecy.

Moore, 42, was described by the foundation as an “international champion of religious freedom, human dignity, and peace.” He was twice appointed by Trump to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and is said to have “decades of experience in humanitarian causes.”

The foundation, which operates under Israeli oversight and works with U.S. security firms like Safe Rich Solutions, has overseen aid distribution in Gaza that resulted in the killing of more than 100 civilians. Moore praised the foundation’s work just days before his appointment.

In his social media posts, Moore deliberately conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism, writing, “Anti-Zionism is antisemitism.” In February, he praised Trump’s Gaza resettlement plan on social media, saying, “President Trump ends wars and creates peace. He views conflict through human cost, not convention. The U.S. will take full responsibility for Gaza’s future to offer hope to all.”

A self-proclaimed evangelical friend of Israel, Moore serves on the board of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), founded in 1983. The organization supports Jewish immigration to Israel, claiming to fulfill biblical prophecy. According to its website, it “helps return the Jewish people to their homeland through aliyah and provides them with resettlement support and essential supplies.” The IFCJ solicits donations for Jews facing “unbearable conditions” in Israel and around the world, presenting itself as a global bridge-builder and humanitarian relief leader.

Moore began his career at Liberty University, serving as campus pastor, senior VP of communications, and later as chief of staff. He was also VP of religious content at United Artists Media Group in Hollywood and currently leads the Congress of Christian Leaders. He is also a former USCIRF commissioner.

Moore has had a visible presence in the Middle East. In 2017, he played a key role in the Abraham Accords and Bahrain’s Declaration on Religious Minority Rights. He led Bahrain’s delegation to Jerusalem after the U.S. embassy move and helped evacuate Christians from Iraq and Syria in 2015 under ISIS threat.

Currently, he also serves in the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for minority protection in the Middle East and has met with key regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He visited the Gaza border after the October 2023 Israeli military operation and posted about it online.

Moore’s ties with Donald Trump span over nine years, beginning with his appointment to Trump’s evangelical executive board during the 2016 campaign. He met Trump alongside 25 prominent evangelical leaders, expressing admiration for his commitment to religious freedom. After Trump’s election, Moore posted a photo from a prayer session at the White House, saying, “An honor to pray for Trump in the Oval Office.”

Outside his religious and political activities, Moore is also a businessman. In 2015, he founded KAIROS Public Relations in California, which expanded to 11 states and was acquired by JDA Worldwide in 2020. He now heads GDA, a major PR firm.

Moore has authored 12 books, many focused on the Middle East and Africa, including “Defying ISIS,” “The Next Jihad,” and “The War on Christianity.” He is often described by right-wing media as one of the most influential evangelical leaders in America.