Two months ago, on May 27, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began distributing food in the Gaza Strip. From the outset, the group was mired in controversy. Israel initially claimed it had no connection to the organization, calling it an independent American foundation. Within days though, the chairman resigned, and a major U.S. consulting group cancelled its contract with the GHF amid questions over its funding and management.

Despite the turbulence, that day was celebrated by some in Israel as a breakthrough. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed the GHF’s arrival as a “turning point in the war.” Finally, he declared, there was an entity that could deliver to the Palestinian people who needed it without connection to the United Nations and without simply funneling supplies to Hamas. The GHF, Smotrich insisted, would bypass the terror group and reach ordinary Gazans in need.

“God willing, [this will] lead to victory and the destruction of Hamas,” Smotrich said at the time. “Better late than never.”

It’s worth recalling those words after Sunday, when Israel began parachuting aid into Gaza and allowing other nations to do the same, while implementing daily pauses in fighting as claims of mass starvation........

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