The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has requested $30 million from the now beleaguered USAID – a request sources say the agency is being “forced” by higher-ups to quickly approve.
The request comes after Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians at or near the GHF aid sites since the chaotic operation began late last month. On Friday morning, the same day the request came in, Israeli tanks and drones fired at thousands of people near a distribution site, reportedly killing at least 23 people.
Sources, who were granted anonymity to speak freely on the issue, told Zeteo that Jeremy Lewin, the director of foreign assistance at USAID, is pressuring the agency to approve the request. Lewin is a DOGE associate who reportedly has history of making racist remarks.
GHF’s “request” appears to be bypassing normal procedures. The sources say top Trump brass is pushing the proposed funding through, despite any staff concerns on the project’s ability to meet criteria regarding humanitarian principles, neutrality, or independence.
The award, if approved, is set to run from June 1 to June 30 – seemingly as a mechanism for backfunding the project. In its application, GHF included an “estimated budget” that includes $30 million from the US each month, at least until December, which would mean a total of $210 million.
A source within USAID says the unusual process makes it such that it’s unclear whether the request itself is for $30 million or an assumed $210 million. There are existing mechanisms to increase aid awards, but it’s unclear if those would even apply to this type of request.
In its application, GHF also states the organization expects to receive upwards of $1 billion from “other government donors.” It’s not clear which governments it means.
… On Friday, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and USAID acting administrator Kenneth Jackson, demanding answers to several questions, including whether USAID was considering awarding any funds to GHF and the terms of a possible agreement.
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