Aid or Occupation? Private contractors and pro-Israel figures run Trump’s Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

In a statement made today, Mike Huckabee, U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Israel, announced that a private company will oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. This plan is expected to be led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization tied to pro-Israel figures and private contractors with strong military and security backgrounds.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) claims to be an independent and rigorously-audited organization. It says it will deliver aid directly to civilians in Gaza. But a closer look at its leadership and strategy reveals a different story—one tied deeply to U.S. military veterans, private contractors, and officials with close ties to Israel.

This is what we know about the GHF—and why its neutrality is under serious scrutiny.

A Foundation with No Humanitarian Background

GHF was registered in Switzerland in early 2025. It plans to take over aid distribution in Gaza with backing from the U.S. and Israel. According to a 14-page proposal from the newly created group, obtained by Quds News Network, the foundation will oversee secure aid hubs and use private military companies to manage logistics and security.

Each pre-packaged meal will cost $1.31. GHF promises full control from the Israeli port of Ashdod or Kerem Shalom to distribution sites inside Gaza, an announcement that exposes deep ties to Israel.

Here is what we know about some names behind the foundation.

David Papazian

David Papazian serves as the president of GHF. He is the current CEO of the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and the chairman of Fly Arna, Armenia’s budget airline.

Papazian has strong ties with the United Arab Emirates, a close ally of Israel that seeks to expand its influence in Gaza. He built his career in business and diplomacy, especially in partnerships with the UAE. Under his leadership, ANIF signed a $174 million deal with Masdar, a UAE-based company, to build a solar plant in Armenia.

Samuel Marcel Henderson

Loik Samuel Marcel Henderson is a GHF board member. He lives in Arlington, Virginia. Before this role, there are no public records of his professional life. No known experience in aid, development, or security. Nothing.

His sudden appearance on a major humanitarian board is both unusual and concerning.

David Kohler

David Kohler is a Swiss national from Wynigen. He now lives in Cologny, Switzerland. Publicly, his name has only been tied to GHF. Like Henderson, he has no known background in humanitarian operations, military, or civil service.

Jake Wood

Jake Wood, GHF’s Executive Director, is a former U.S. Marine Scout Sniper. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In interviews, Wood admitted to occupying Iraqi homes during military operations. “We’d take over these Iraqi houses and turn them into patrol bases… It always felt a little dirty,” he said.

Wood’s experience shows strong logistical skills—but it also reveals a mindset shaped by military occupation, not humanitarian neutrality.

David Burke

David Burke, GHF’s Chief Operating Officer, served five years as a logistics officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. His job was to manage supplies and coordinate operations—often in active warzones.

Burke is also president and founding board member of the ‘Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’, a nonprofit led by former President George W. Bush. It centres on honoring U.S. service members who have served in the Global War on ‘Terrorism’  since September 11, 2001.

Burke brings military efficiency, but his presence further blurs the line between aid and military control.

John Acree

John Acree is GHF’s Head of Mission. He formerly worked with USAID as Director of the Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation. His job was to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Defense and Special Forces in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

His career centered around aligning aid with U.S. national security goals.

Nate Mook

Nate Mook is on the GHF board. He formerly led World Central Kitchen (WCK). During his time there, WCK partnered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Puerto Rico. That led to backlash from community groups like La Morada, which ended their partnership over concerns WCK collaborated with ICE.

Mook also faced criticism for inaction over sexual harassment allegations within WCK. He eventually stepped down as CEO amid internal turmoil.

David Beasley

David Beasley, former head of the UN World Food Programme and staunch supporter of Israel, is in talks to join GHF’s advisory board. He is also a senior advisor to Fogbow, a U.S. consulting firm led by former military and intelligence officials.

Fogbow was involved in the failed U.S. floating pier project in Gaza in 2024. The pier, built by the U.S. military, was dismantled after just 20 days. It was mainly built to be used by Israeli forces in a massacre at the Nuseirat refugee camp that killed 274 Palestinians.

Beasley’s links to Fogbow and past praise of Israel have raised doubts about his impartiality.

Bill Miller

Bill Miller served in top security roles at the U.S. State Department and the United Nations. He led the UN Department of Safety and Security until 2023. He is now a GHF advisor.

Miller’s background is intelligence and security, not humanitarian work. His presence on GHF’s advisory board further ties the foundation to military and state interests.

Mark Schwartz

Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Schwartz also advises GHF. He was the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In that role, he worked directly with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and was also responsible for overseeing the training and development of Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces during his tenure as the U.S. Security Coordinator (USSC) for Israel and the Palestinian Authority from 2019 to 2021.

The PA security forces have faced criticism for declaring that their primary goal is to cooperate with Israeli forces against potential Palestinian resistance in the West Bank. They have also been accused of committing human rights violations.

Aid or Occupation?

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) plans to deploy private security firms to guard its aid distribution sites—a move that critics say undermines fundamental humanitarian principles. Under international law, aid operations must remain neutral, independent, and civilian in nature. Treating humanitarian relief as a militarized mission violates those standards.

According to Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel—as the occupying power—is obligated to allow independent and impartial humanitarian organizations to operate freely in Gaza. But GHF falls short of both, especially as hundreds of trucks remain stalled at Gaza’s borders, awaiting Israeli permission to enter.

Instead of simply pressuring Israel to open the broader crossings, the U.S. chose a more complicated plan that involves questionable figures, raising concerns about the true intentions behind this approach.

Also, rather than supporting established humanitarian actors with proven track records, Israel has backed the creation of a new foundation staffed largely by former military, intelligence, and pro-Israel personnel. By outsourcing aid delivery to private contractors, observers say Israel is effectively offloading its legal responsibilities while retaining tight control over Gaza’s humanitarian access.