State Department Says Aid Is Moving to Gaza, Backs Safety Measures for Humanitarian Foundation

The State Department spokesperson said humanitarian aid is moving into Gaza and emphasized that safety and security are core concerns for U.S. support of aid delivery. The spokesperson described the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as a private entity that has structured security arrangements to protect shipments.

In response to reporters' questions about whether the administration would accept private security personnel, potentially including armed U.S. citizens, for aid deliveries, the spokesperson said the department would not discuss operational details but stressed the importance of safety. “That's the point of ceasefires is to have safety,” the spokesperson said, adding that the goal is to get food and medical supplies to civilians "if it can be safe, that having a security service, is important." The spokesperson described the foundation as private and operating on its own and said the administration would support movements of aid that can be done “safely and securely and without falling into the hands of terrorists.”

Reporters pressed for truck counts after international agencies provided conflicting reports about whether trucks entered Gaza; the spokesperson declined to provide specific tallies but said the core fact was that aid was moving into the territory and that officials should take Israeli reports about inbound shipments seriously.

The briefing did not offer details on who would staff private security, what rules would govern their use, or whether any U.S. licenses or approvals would be required for American citizens to serve as private security in Gaza. The spokesperson noted that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a private entity and that operational specifics were managed by its organizers.