US consulting firm withdraws from Gaza humanitarian relief efforts amid criticism

A US- and Israeli-backed initiative to feed starving Gazans has struggled during its first week of operations, with the resignation of two top executives, accusations that the Israeli military opened fire on crowds of civilians rushing to receive aid parcels, and the continued refusal of the UN and humanitarian partners to join the effort.

On Friday, a leading American management consulting firm, hired last fall to help design the program and manage its business operations, withdrew its field team from Tel Aviv. A spokesperson for the firm, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), stated that it had terminated its contract with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and placed a senior partner leading the project on leave pending an internal review.

The Washington Post quoted three people with close ties to both the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the Boston Consulting Group, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, as saying that it would be difficult for the organization to continue operating without the consultants who helped establish it. In addition to helping develop the initiative in close coordination with Israel, BCG set the wages and equipment for the group of contractors who built four distribution centers in southern Gaza to deliver aid.

A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) spokesperson stated that the company provided "pro bono" support to the humanitarian operation and would not charge for any of the work it performed on behalf of the organization. Another person familiar with its operations contradicted the company's account, saying that BCG submitted monthly invoices in excess of $1 million.

The foundation reported in an email Tuesday morning that it had distributed more than 7 million meals in its first eight days of operations. John Acree, who was appointed interim director of the World Health Foundation last week, wrote, "This demonstrates that our model is effective and efficient in delivering life-saving assistance to the people of Gaza under emergency conditions."

Since the outbreak of war in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to the Strip's more than two million residents has been sporadic and woefully inadequate. Israel, which maintains a tight grip on humanitarian access through its border crossings, has accused Hamas—without evidence—of diverting a significant portion of the aid previously provided by the United Nations and other relief organizations.

The architects of the Global Relief Fund plan, including the Israeli government, private sector entrepreneurs, consultants, and some humanitarian actors, stated that the new aid mechanism was designed to protect against looting and appropriation by the armed group. Armed American contractors have been hired to secure aid convoys and supervise distribution centers.

The distribution began after an 11-week blockade, during which Israel prevented any aid from entering Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government announced plans to transfer nearly all of Gaza's residents to the southern part of the 141-square-mile strip, while launching a new offensive in the north to eliminate the remaining Hamas fighters. So far, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in the 19-month war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which makes no distinction between civilians and combatants.

Three of the four distribution centers in the south are now operating, typically for only a few hours in the morning until the day's packaged food supplies run out. No violence has been reported inside the distribution centers themselves, although health workers in Gaza reported dozens of people wounded by gunfire nearby.