International aid groups said Friday that Israel's plans to manage aid in Gaza, including a plan supported by the U.S., will make the suffering and deaths worse in the damaged Palestinian area. They asked Israel to stop blocking food and other supplies, which it has done for almost three months.

Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, announced the imminent launch of a new American-designed aid system, calling on the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations to become involved. The U.N. has, however, so far spurned this new arrangement, contending that it "weaponizes aid," risks widespread displacement of Palestinians, contravenes the principles of impartiality, and will simply be incapable of delivering the necessary volume of assistance.

Every day in Gaza, it's a sad scene. Thousands of Palestinians gathered at a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, a city in the south. They pushed and held up their pots to get some pasta. These kitchens are almost the only place left for the 2.3 million people in the area to get food. But many have closed recently because food is running out due to Israel's blockade. Aid groups say more kitchens will close soon.

Following the depletion of the day's food provisions, Raed al-Zaharna and his children departed without any sustenance.

Israel has imposed restrictions on the entry of essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, into Gaza since March 2, claiming this is a measure to compel Hamas to release hostages and disarm. This action also effectively ended a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, leading to renewed bombardment across Gaza and the seizure of substantial areas of the territory. Numerous human rights organizations have denounced the blockade as a deliberate strategy of starvation, potentially amounting to a war crime.

Israel stated it would not reinstate aid deliveries until a new distribution system is implemented, replacing the large-scale operation that has been overseen by the U.N. and independent relief organisations since the war began. Israel alleges that Hamas and other militant groups are misappropriating aid, an assertion for which it has yet to provide substantiation. The U.N. refutes claims of substantial diversion, affirming that it closely monitors distribution processes.

In Geneva, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder clearly stated that humanitarian aid should not be used in negotiations. He offered a simple solution: remove the blockade, let aid enter, and save lives.

Huckabee indicated that specifics regarding the forthcoming U.S.-supported system would be disclosed shortly, with distribution scheduled to commence imminently, although he provided no timeline.

He characterized it as autonomous from Israel, asserting that the latter would not be involved in the distribution process. He indicated that private entities would be responsible for security, while the Israeli military would secure the perimeters remotely. He reiterated Israel's justification, claiming the measure was necessitated by Hamas's alleged diversion of aid.

"I readily acknowledge that it won't be without flaws, particularly in the initial stages," Huckabee stated.

According to documents seen by The Associated Press, a new group supported by the U.S., called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has suggested a plan to give out aid that fits with what Israel wants. This group includes American security workers, former government and military people, and aid workers.

In its proposition, GHF articulated its initial intention to establish four distribution hubs, safeguarded by private security entities. Each hub would cater to a population of 300,000, thereby encompassing merely half of Gaza’s populace. Huckabee affirmed that the framework would be progressively expanded "as soon as feasibility permits."

Aid workers say Palestinians would have to move to the places where aid is given out, or walk far to get to them. This would cause people to be forced to leave their homes, making large parts of Gaza empty. Although the exact places for the aid hubs are not decided yet, aid workers say that from the information they got, it seems none will be in northern Gaza, where many thousands of Palestinians still live.

Throughout the conflict, Israel has consistently urged Palestinians to evacuate northern areas, including Gaza City, asserting this measure is for their protection amidst military engagements with Hamas combatants.

Elder expressed the view that the plan would solidify forced displacement “for political and military ends,” adding that the most vulnerable, such as children, the elderly and those with health issues, might find it impossible to reach the designated hubs.

Last month, twenty aid groups in Gaza said in a statement that the plan would make Palestinians live in conditions like being held against their will in small areas around the main points.

Furthermore, Israel has reportedly informed UN officials of its intention to scrutinise aid beneficiaries, according to aid workers, sparking concerns that assistance could be denied to certain individuals for political or military motives, despite the GHF proposition stating that aid distribution would be based on necessity.

Elder also warned that civilians would be in danger when they try to get help in areas with military presence.

More children are prone to severe hardship, facing the risk of death and injury, should this plan be implemented, Elder asserted.

According to aid officials, the new system is expected to be insufficient in providing the required level of assistance, contrasting with the extensive network of distribution points and support services previously managed by relief organizations across Gaza.

The operation has been spearheaded by UNRWA, the principal U.N. entity serving Palestinian refugees. Israel prohibited the agency last year, contending that its personnel had been permeated by Hamas. UNRWA, which provides employment for over 10,000 individuals in Gaza, stated that it takes immediate action to dismiss anyone suspected of connections to militant groups, and that Israel has failed to furnish corroborating evidence for its assertions.

According to UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma, the agency possesses the most extensive network and it is exceedingly challenging to envisage any humanitarian operation being viable without UNRWA's involvement.

Ruth James, Oxfam's regional humanitarian coordinator, stated that extensive networks are essential for the universal distribution of aid, requiring significant time and specialised knowledge. She argued that any hastily established new system, lacking humanitarian expertise and community trust, would be incapable of achieving this goal.

Huckabee urged UN agencies and aid organisations to participate in the new mechanism.

Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s humanitarian division, stated on Friday that the U.N.'s apprehensions had not been adequately addressed during numerous discussions with Israeli authorities, while simultaneously refuting assertions regarding the substantial magnitude of aid pilferage.

"The fundamental issue lies in the daily impediment of hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks destined for the Gaza Strip, which is the primary driver of the current crisis."