Palestinians Cheer Trump as US-Israeli Aid Reaches Gaza: A New Chapter in Humanitarian Efforts

In a surprising turn of events, Palestinians in Gaza have been captured on video chanting “I love you Trump” and “I love you Donald” as the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) rolls out its controversial aid distribution program. The initiative, launched in May 2025, has sparked both hope and heated debate, with scenes of gratitude unfolding amid a backdrop of chaos, conflict, and a looming famine. Here’s the full story of how this polarizing effort is reshaping the humanitarian landscape in Gaza, as reported by NRI Globe.

A Lifeline Amid Crisis

Gaza, a region battered by conflict and an Israeli blockade, has been teetering on the edge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Since March 2025, Israel’s restrictions on food, medicine, and fuel have pushed Gaza’s 2.1 million residents toward starvation, with aid agencies warning of an imminent famine. The collapse of traditional relief channels, including those run by the United Nations, prompted the creation of the GHF, a US- and Israeli-backed nonprofit aimed at delivering food and essentials directly to Palestinians.

The GHF, established just weeks after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, has distributed an estimated 44-46 million meals since its inception, according to its own reports. Operating from four heavily secured distribution hubs in southern and central Gaza, the organization claims to bypass Hamas, which Israel and the US accuse of stealing aid—allegations Hamas and UN agencies have repeatedly denied.

Voices of Gratitude Amid Controversy

Social media platforms like X have been abuzz with videos showing Palestinians expressing gratitude for the aid. One man, holding a GHF-branded food parcel in Rafah, was recorded saying, “Trump feeds us, while Hamas starves us. God bless the Americans, they’re giving us flour and food.” Another clip, shared widely on TikTok, featured a Gazan thanking “whoever brought us this—whether Muslim, Arab, or American,” while others chanted praise for Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These moments of appreciation have struck a chord, particularly among supporters of the initiative, who see it as a bold step to counter Hamas’s influence.

However, the GHF’s operations are far from universally celebrated. The UN and major aid organizations, including World Central Kitchen and the World Food Programme, have refused to cooperate, labeling the program a “distraction” that violates humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Critics argue the GHF’s hubs, located near Israeli military positions and secured by American private contractors, force desperate Palestinians to travel long distances through dangerous zones, risking their lives for basic necessities.

A Dangerous Path to Aid

The GHF’s distribution sites have become flashpoints for violence. Palestinian health officials report that over 500 people have been killed and thousands injured near these hubs since May, with local hospitals like Nasser and Al-Aqsa Martyrs documenting deaths from Israeli gunfire. Al Jazeera reported at least 14 Palestinians killed near a GHF site in June 2025, with witnesses describing chaotic scenes where crowds, given just 20-minute windows to collect aid, faced gunfire when time ran out. Israeli forces claim they fire warning shots at “suspicious” individuals, while the GHF denies any deaths occur within its sites, pointing the finger at Hamas for inciting chaos.

The controversy deepened when Israeli soldiers described the hubs as “killing fields,” alleging orders to shoot unarmed civilians, according to a Haaretz report. Humanitarian experts like Jeremy Konyndyk, former USAID famine relief overseer, have called the setup “grotesque,” arguing it’s designed to draw Palestinians south, aligning with Israel’s military goal of clearing northern Gaza. UN officials, including Unicef’s James Elder, have slammed the plan as “weaponizing aid,” noting that the most vulnerable—children and the elderly—struggle to reach the militarized hubs.

Trump’s Vision and Global Backlash

The GHF is closely tied to President Trump’s broader, controversial vision for Gaza. In February 2025, Trump proposed a US “takeover” of the territory, envisioning it as a “Riviera of the Middle East” with Palestinians relocated to neighboring countries—a plan condemned by the UN, Arab states, and even some US lawmakers as a violation of international law. While Trump’s aides, including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, later clarified that no US troops or funds would be used for reconstruction, the GHF’s $30 million in US funding, announced in June 2025, has fueled speculation that the aid program is a stepping stone for this agenda.

Despite the backlash, Trump and his administration remain steadfast. “The peopleറ

System: people of Gaza are starving, and we’re going to help them get some food,” Trump said during a May 2025 visit to the UAE, emphasizing the GHF’s role in addressing the crisis. The administration’s decision to fund the GHF, coupled with Israel’s easing of the blockade, has allowed a trickle of aid to enter Gaza, though UN reports indicate that daily deliveries—averaging 56 trucks—fall far short of the hundreds needed to avert famine.

A Divided Response

The GHF’s aid distribution has sparked polarized reactions. On one hand, posts on X highlight genuine gratitude from some Gazans, with one user (@Osint613) sharing a video of a Palestinian saying, “Trump feeds us, while Hamas starves us.” Another post by @koshercockney showed crowds chanting “Trump, Trump, Netanyahu,” celebrating the bypass of Hamas’s alleged control over aid. These sentiments resonate with those who view the GHF as a practical solution to a dire situation.

On the other hand, the UN and aid groups like Oxfam America have called the GHF a “multimillion-dollar distraction” that risks enabling war crimes, such as forced displacement. A Carnegie Endowment report criticized the GHF for failing to meet international aid delivery standards, accusing it of serving Israel’s military objectives over humanitarian needs. The resignation of GHF’s executive director, Jake Wood, in May 2025, citing the program’s inability to uphold humanitarian principles, further underscored these concerns.

A Complex Path Forward

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with over 56,000 Palestinians killed and 131,000 injured since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the GHF remains a polarizing experiment. For some, it’s a lifeline delivering millions of meals to a starving population, earning heartfelt thanks for Trump and his administration. For others, it’s a dangerous scheme that compromises safety and dignity, turning aid into a geopolitical tool.

The chants of “I love you Trump” echo a glimmer of hope amid Gaza’s despair, but they also highlight the complexity of a region where aid, politics, and survival are inextricably linked. As the GHF expands its operations, with plans for more distribution sites, the world watches closely, weighing the cost of every food parcel delivered against the lives lost in the process.

Stay tuned to NRI Globe for updates on this evolving story and its impact on Gaza’s future.