State Department defends Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and 90 million meals; reporters and aid groups say hunger persists

The State Department spokesperson repeated that the United States has supported delivery of "close to 90,000,000 meals into Gaza" and said the administration remains committed to increasing aid "in a way where it is not being looted by Hamas." The spokesperson described the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as a mechanism the U.S. supports to move food and fuel into the enclave, but acknowledged that "it is never enough in a war zone."

Reporters cited assessments and aid agencies describing severe malnutrition. A reporter referenced a claim that "1 in 4 young children and pregnant women ... are malnourished" and said many aid organizations and 28 countries had called for lifting restrictions on land crossings and restoring broader humanitarian access. The reporter said much of the GHF distribution is concentrated in southern Gaza and raised concerns that people in northern Gaza cannot reach those sites.

The spokesperson said the U.S. objective is to get aid "to the people who need it in a way where it is not weaponized by Hamas" and repeated that this administration supports the GHF. On whether GHF can ensure the most vulnerable receive high-nutrient food, the spokesperson said he would "take that back" and supply details later. He likewise said he had no new public assessment to announce on whether current conditions meet technical famine definitions, but that the Department is "acutely aware of the humanitarian situation on the ground."

The briefing included repeated exchanges in which reporters pressed officials on oversight of distribution sites, whether GHF deliveries reach hospitals and malnourished children, and whether alternatives to the GHF — such as direct WFP or World Central Kitchen routes reported by other countries — could be allowed for northern Gaza. The State Department rejected claims at the podium that Israel had "weaponized aid," saying instead that "the only entity that has been weaponizing aid has been Hamas" through alleged looting. Officials did not provide detailed public answers about distribution-site oversight during the briefing.