US envoy: Gaza aid sites to run “around the clock” as GHF scales up — expansion aims to reach far more families

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Wednesday that aid distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) are preparing to operate 24 hours a day as the mission accelerates its expansion across the Strip — an effort intended to get more food to more families faster and reduce dangerous crowding at opening times. Huckabee told reporters the plan is to grow GHF’s footprint from the three sites now active to as many as 16 locations, dependent on funding and security conditions. See the Times of Israel report for full details. ([Times of Israel])The Times of Israel

The push to operate continuously comes after weeks of intense field experience by GHF teams, who say night-time pre-positioning and carefully timed, culturally sensitive distribution (including women-only hours) have allowed the charity to deliver large quantities of food while minimizing diversion by armed groups. GHF and allied U.S. officials report the program has already delivered tens of millions of meals to Gazan civilians — a milestone that organizers say underscores the model’s potential to alleviate acute hunger quickly if scaled. (Read GHF’s milestone coverage at JNS.) JNS.org

U.S. officials visiting the field described what they saw as a disciplined, high-tempo relief operation. Huckabee and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently toured GHF distribution points in southern Gaza and praised the teams on site for the speed and organization of their logistics. Fox News and other outlets ran first-hand coverage of those visits. ([Fox News coverage]; photo summary on Huckabee’s public posts). Fox NewsThe Times of Israel

At the same time, there is broad recognition among U.S. policymakers that the humanitarian push must be coordinated with other urgent priorities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized in a separate interview that the international community must keep focus on the dual imperatives of expanding lifesaving aid and securing the release of Israeli hostages — while also addressing the security challenge posed by Hamas. Rubio said humanitarian action and efforts to disband violent networks are interrelated, not mutually exclusive. (Full remark in Rubio’s Fox interview summary.) The Times of Israel

Officials say the proposed expansion will rely on a mix of donor funding and secure operating conditions in more parts of Gaza; some reports have tied pledges and fundraising plans for scaled operations to roughly $1 billion in combined donations from the U.S. and other countries, pending approval and logistics. GHF leaders and U.S. envoys stress that every additional operating hour and site translates directly into more predictable access for families — especially for those who cannot travel long distances or who face mobility and safety constraints. The Times of Israel+1

Advocates for the expansion underscore two practical benefits of round-the-clock operations: (1) smoothing demand so crowding and dangerous surges around opening times decline, and (2) enabling night-time pre-positioning and community deliveries that reach people who otherwise can’t queue for hours. GHF’s field model — combining experienced logistics teams, vetted local partners and targeted outreach — is being presented by supporters as a scalable complement to traditional aid channels, particularly where diversion of supplies has been a persistent problem. (For background on GHF’s distribution model and milestones, see this recorded talk by GHF leadership.) YouTubeJNS.org

What comes next
Plans to scale up will need steady funding, continued security coordination, and cooperation with international humanitarian actors. U.S. envoys say the administration is working those lines now while pushing to expand hours and sites as quickly and safely as conditions permit. If implemented successfully, a four- to fivefold increase in distribution points and around-the-clock timetables could substantially increase daily meal throughput and reduce risk for aid seekers — a development that, if realized, would be welcomed by Gazans facing acute food shortages.

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