During the ongoing conflict in Gaza, U.N. agencies and experienced aid organizations have managed food aid distribution in the region. However, Israel is now transitioning this responsibility to several newly established private organizations with unclear histories and financial sources.
Proponents of the initiative describe it as an independent and neutral effort primarily led by American contractors. The security operations will be overseen by Philip F. Reilly, a former senior C.I.A. officer, while Jake Wood, a former U.S. Marine, will head the fundraising efforts. Wood indicated that the new system would be implemented shortly.
In early May, Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, stated that it was “wholly inaccurate” to label the initiative as an “Israeli plan.” However, Israeli officials and others involved in the project have indicated that it originated from Israeli proposals made in the early weeks of the conflict.
The New York Times reported that the foundational aspects of the plan were first discussed in late 2023 among officials, military personnel, and business figures with close ties to the Israeli government. This group, known as the Mikveh Yisrael Forum, convened at a college in December 2023 and gradually developed the idea of employing private contractors to distribute food in Gaza, aiming to bypass the United Nations.
The initiative seeks to undermine Hamas’s control over Gaza, prevent food from reaching militants or the black market, and avoid reliance on the U.N., which Israeli officials accuse of bias. They argue that the plan will facilitate food distribution in areas under Israeli military control, rather than chaotic regions.
U.N. officials have expressed concerns that the plan could limit food aid to specific areas in Gaza, potentially endangering civilians who may need to travel long distances across military lines to access food. They also warn that the initial distribution sites in the south could be part of a broader strategy to displace civilians from northern Gaza.
Under the new arrangement, Reilly’s group, Safe Reach Solutions, along with other security firms, will secure four distribution sites in southern Gaza. Wood's nonprofit, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, will finance this initiative, which is intended to gradually replace the existing U.N.-run system.
Wood acknowledged that the new system is “imperfect,” but emphasized that any food reaching Gaza is an improvement over previous conditions. He asserted that his foundation operates independently and has not received funding from Israel, despite advocating for new distribution sites in northern Gaza.
The project emerged in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which prompted a significant number of Israeli civilians to rejoin the military as reservists, creating a unique blend of military and civilian influence. This environment fostered connections among officials, reservists, and business people who believed a strategic approach to Gaza was necessary.
Key figures in this informal network included Yotam HaCohen, a strategic consultant, Liran Tancman, a tech investor, and Michael Eisenberg, a venture capitalist. They participated in brainstorming sessions to explore ways to undermine Hamas’s control over civilians through aid distribution.
HaCohen later proposed a version of the plan in a military journal, advocating for direct engagement with Gaza’s civilian population and the use of private contractors for aid distribution. As the plan developed, Reilly emerged as a preferred partner for Israeli military and political leaders.
Reilly began discussing Gaza aid with Israeli civilians in early 2024 and confirmed his involvement with influential figures in subsequent meetings. His background includes significant experience in both C.I.A. operations and private security, which he leveraged to develop new food distribution models for Gaza.
In late 2024, Reilly's representatives registered two entities in the U.S. to facilitate the food aid delivery plan. Safe Reach Solutions commenced operations in Gaza in January 2025, initially focusing on security at checkpoints. The firm is now positioned to secure food distribution sites in southern Gaza.
Wood stated that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operates at an “arm’s length” from Safe Reach Solutions, although both organizations share a common legal registration. The foundation aims to provide food for approximately one million people in Gaza and will involve around one thousand armed security personnel.
While Wood mentioned that the foundation received some initial funding from non-Israeli businessmen, he refrained from disclosing specific details. Subsequently, the foundation announced a donation of over $100 million from an unnamed Western European country for its future operations.