Head of controversial Gaza Humanitarian 

 

The head of the controversial Gaza humanitarian aid organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), is Rev. Dr. Johnnie Moore. He was appointed as the Executive Chairman in early June 2025.

The GHF has been at the center of controversy due to several factors:

US and Israeli Backing: The GHF is a new initiative backed by the United States and Israel, aiming to deliver aid directly to Palestinian civilians while reportedly bypassing Hamas. This has led to criticism from the UN and other traditional aid groups who argue it circumvents established humanitarian principles and could politicize aid.

Lack of Neutrality: Critics, including UN officials and other aid organizations, have expressed concerns that the GHF lacks neutrality and independence from Israeli and US political and military aims.

Resignation of Previous Leader: The initial Executive Director, Jake Wood (a US Marine veteran and co-founder of Team Rubicon), resigned in late May 2025, stating that it was “not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.”
Controversial Stance of New Leadership: Johnnie Moore is an American evangelical leader and former faith adviser to President Donald Trump. His appointment has fueled further concerns due to his past support for controversial proposals regarding the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and his strong pro-Israel stance.

Operational Challenges and Casualties: The GHF’s operations have faced significant challenges, including reports of chaos, overcrowding, and violence near distribution sites. There have been numerous reports of Palestinians being killed or injured while attempting to access aid from GHF sites, with some calling these incidents “death traps.” The GHF itself recently reported that a bus carrying its Palestinian workers was attacked by Hamas, resulting in fatalities.