May 28th, 2025: UN Fumes As Mystery Group Takes Over Gaza Aid Operations & New Evidence Of War Crimes In Ukraine

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What is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?

Mike Baker 0:12
It's Wednesday, the 28th of May. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. We'll start things off with a look at a new group handing out aid in Gaza. The UN is furious. Okay, so it can't be all bad. Major relief groups are boycotting it, and its former marine director just walked away. So, what's really going on with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation? Later in the show, brutality in Ukraine. Intercepted Russian radio transmissions reveal orders to execute surrendering Ukrainian soldiers. If confirmed, it could mark another war crime chalked up to Putin's invasion. Plus, an unexpected development in the Middle East.
Mike Baker 0:57
Israel and Syria are holding direct talks for the first time in years, aiming to cool tensions along their volatile border. And in today's back of the brief, a story worth keeping an eye on. In Iran, a nationwide trucker strike is spreading fast, hitting over 100 cities and potentially signaling deeper unrest. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. In a story you might have missed, but one that could have major implications for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a new and somewhat controversial group has quietly taken over aid distribution in parts of the war-torn enclave. It's called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF, and while it presents itself as an independent contractor, it does have powerful backers, namely the governments of the U.S. and Israel. The U.S. State Department has publicly expressed support for the group's efforts, even as major humanitarian organizations have slammed the operation and are now boycotting it altogether.
Mike Baker 1:57
So, let's try to figure out why the UN and humanitarian groups would be against an organization with the stated goal of delivering aid to the beleaguered Gaza Strip. In short, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation appears to be part of a larger plan to strip Hamas of one of its most effective tools, and that would be control over aid distribution.

Why is the UN upset about the new aid group?

Mike Baker 2:19
For years, Hamas has siphoned off international aid, using it to line its own pockets or sell on the black market to fund military operations. By putting a new group in charge, the goal appears to be to cut Hamas out of the equation. Controlling the international aid has been a key element of Hamas controlling the Palestinian population of Gaza. But this isn't just about Hamas. It's also about the U.N. Israeli officials have long accused the UN of harboring anti-Israel bias, especially within agencies operating in Gaza. There's also plentiful evidence that aid groups that are overseen by the UN, like UNRWA, are compromised by terror groups. UNRWA itself has admitted in the past that it harbored members and supporters of Hamas.
Mike Baker 3:08
By shifting food distribution responsibilities to the GHF, Israel hopes to bypass and ultimately replace the current UN-run system. Obviously, well, not everyone's on board. The UN, the Red Cross, and several other humanitarian organizations are refusing to work with the GHF, citing multiple concerns. First, they say, there's the issue of neutrality. Critics argue that by involving governments in aid operations, the GHF has blurred the boundary between humanitarian work and political agendas. They warn that this sets a dangerous precedent for future conflict zones. Yes, like the dangerous precedent of efficiently delivering aid to the people that need it, rather than to the warlords or terror groups controlling those areas.
Mike Baker 3:55
Second, there's the use of biometric screening at distribution sites. That includes facial recognition technology. Human rights groups say this opens the door to, oh, there it is, mass surveillance and possible targeting of Palestinians by Israeli security forces. Well, the privacy implications are obvious, especially in a war zone.

What are the concerns regarding biometric screening?

Mike Baker 4:15
But you certainly wouldn't want to have the ability to identify terrorists in a war zone. And third, the aid itself is mostly being distributed in southern Gaza. That means residents from the north would have to travel south, often through active conflict zones, just to access basic supplies.

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