WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 90 House Democrats, including Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-D02) and Sean Casten (IL-D06), sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an investigation over “serious concerns” into the ownership structure and operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), that has ties to Israel and “no prior humanitarian experience.”
“I joined Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06) and more than 90 House Democrats in demanding oversight into the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an unqualified organization whose efforts are ineffective and have led to mass panic and Palestinian casualties at distribution sites,” Larsen stated. “Providing secure humanitarian assistance to Palestinians is a moral obligation and vital to the region’s long-term security and the safe return of all hostages.”
Larsen committed to opposing “any effort for Israel to take over Gaza.”
“I again call for a reconstruction plan that begins the day the conflict ends, ensures a two-state solution where Israel and a Palestinian state exist securely side-by-side, and ensures the Palestinian state is not led by a terrorist organization,” Larsen stated.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, established in February 2025 as an American nonprofit organization, distributes humanitarian aid during the Israel-Hamas war. Headquartered in Delaware with an initial office in Geneva that was later dissolved by Swiss authorities, GHF has received significant funding, including a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of State approved in June 2025, alongside contributions from other governments totaling at least $119 million and reported covert support from Israel amounting to approximately $280 million.
The organization operates four aid distribution sites in Gaza, contracting U.S. firms Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions for security and logistics, with input from Boston Consulting Group consultants. Led by Executive Chairman Johnnie Moore, a figure, who Democrats mention in their letter to Rubio, having ties to President Donald J Trump but no prior humanitarian experience, GHF has faced criticism for its first-come, first-served distribution model, that the lawmakers say deviates from international humanitarian principles contributing to violence at sites, resulting in at least 1,000 reported deaths as of July 23, 2025.
“As a result, when centers open, large crowds of Palestinians rush to the centers,” the letter reads. “In these situations, there appear to be few restrictions on the use of lethal force by Israeli soldiers and American contractors in the vicinity. A former security contractor stated that he was instructed, ‘if you feel threatened, shoot – shoot to kill and ask questions later.'”
The Democrats’ call for oversight stems from concerns that GHF, described as a newly formed entity lacking humanitarian expertise, may not be effectively or safely delivering aid, and potentially exacerbating the crisis in Gaza where over two million people face critical hunger levels.
Signatories, including Larsen, emphasized that “secure and efficient humanitarian assistance to Palestinians is not only a moral obligation—it is also vital to Israel’s long-term security and the safe return of Israeli hostages.”
The 16 specific questions from the lawmakers to Rubio, is seeking details by August 14, 2025, on funding origins, compliance with standards, and future roles for GHF.
The letter arrives as the Israel-Hamas war, sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack, continues to exact a heavy toll. As of Tuesday, August 12, at least 61,499 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, 1,219 people were killed, primarily civilians during the initial assault.
Additionally, hunger-related deaths in Gaza have risen, with at least 227 reported from starvation amid restricted aid access.
Ceasefire negotiations show signs of revival, with Israeli officials considering dispatching negotiators to Doha for talks on a comprehensive deal to free all hostages at once and not in phases and end the war, while Hamas leaders are due in Cairo to engage with Egyptian mediators.
Of the 251 hostages initially abducted by Hamas, 49 remain held in Gaza, including 27 whom the Israeli military believes are deceased.
Author: Mario Lotmore
