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State Department says safe delivery drives Gaza aid support for private security arrangements
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Summary
At the briefing, the State Department said its priority is getting life-saving food and medical aid into Gaza safely; it said private security for a new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation could be acceptable if it ensures aid does not fall into terrorist hands and that aid movement occurs in safe conditions.
The State Department told reporters it supports efforts to deliver life-saving food and medical aid to Gaza so long as deliveries occur safely and do not fall into the hands of armed groups.
Asked about reports that the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation would use private security personnel, possibly including U.S. citizens, the spokesperson said concerns about safety are a priority but described the foundation as a private actor that is "structured something that can manage that" and is moving forward. "Our concern has been constantly about safety and what we could achieve in that environment," the spokesperson said. "That's the point of ceasefires is to have safety... having a security service is important."
The Department declined to provide granular operational details about private security arrangements or to confirm personnel nationalities. The spokesperson emphasized the broader policy goal: ensuring aid reaches civilians while not benefiting groups that have impeded aid flows.
Reporters also sought numbers of trucks permitted into Gaza. The spokesperson declined to provide numbers, saying only that aid is moving into Gaza and that Israel has been forthright about what it reports moving. "I would suggest that you should take that report seriously," the spokesperson said when describing Israeli reporting on deliveries. No verified truck tallies were released at the briefing.
The Department did not announce changes to U.S. humanitarian funding or a formal U.S. role in the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation during the session. Officials framed the matter as an operational and safety challenge that requires coordination among humanitarian actors, host authorities and security providers.
