Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Virginia home of John Acree, interim director of the U.S.-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), demanding the organization be dismantled amid growing criticism over its role in Gaza’s deepening humanitarian disaster. The protest comes as death tolls from starvation and aid-related violence continue to rise.
Protest
Chanting “GHF only aids ethnic cleansing” and “Gaza needs medicine, food, and housing,” demonstrators marched through the quiet neighborhood of Vienna, Virginia, and assembled outside Acree’s residence. The protest was organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement and featured props symbolizing blood-stained food aid—meant to represent the more than 1,000 Palestinians reported killed while attempting to access food at GHF distribution sites.
A video posted by the group showed protesters banging pots and pans and waving Palestinian flags, demanding accountability. At one point, a woman emerged from Acree’s house, smiled at the crowd, and picked up a food delivery—an image the group called a stark contrast to the desperation in Gaza.
Death Traps
GHF has come under intense fire from aid organizations, human rights groups, and even U.S. lawmakers, who argue its military-style distribution centers are unsafe and unfit for humanitarian work. The United Nations has reported that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed at or near GHF sites, many of them by Israeli forces or American and British contractors.
Health officials in Gaza say 147 people—mostly children—have died from starvation, and countless others suffer from malnutrition due to food shortages and the Israeli blockade. Israel has banned items like baby formula and has obstructed aid efforts by trusted international organizations such as UNRWA and Anera.
The GHF, which launched in May, is the only entity permitted by Israel to distribute aid inside Gaza. Videos and eyewitness accounts describe “kettling” tactics—where hungry civilians are funneled into narrow fenced areas under the scorching sun—only to be met with gunfire, sometimes targeting young men in the groin, according to doctors treating survivors.
Background
GHF’s origins are murky. The organization received a $30 million grant from the Trump administration, despite a USAID report warning the initiative lacked a coherent plan or infrastructure. The foundation has declined to disclose any other sources of funding, and its original executive director resigned before operations began, citing ethical concerns.
Acree, now serving as interim director, has a long history in U.S.-funded international development projects. His career includes roles in conflict zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, where he coordinated between USAID and U.S. military units. He has often spoken about civilian-military partnerships and his experience in “complex and constrained” environments.
On LinkedIn, Acree said he took the GHF position because of the enormous needs in Gaza and the challenge of working in a warzone. “We do not control the borders, the checkpoints, or the broader circumstances in which aid must flow,” he wrote in June. “But we are working within those constraints.”
Senate Pressure
Those constraints, however, are at the center of the controversy. A growing number of Senate Democrats are now calling on President Trump to defund the GHF, arguing it has failed to meet even the basic standards of humanitarian aid delivery and may have made conditions worse.
Lawmakers say the foundation’s lack of transparency, oversight, and operational competence make it a dangerous experiment in militarized aid. A now-defunct USAID internal report raised similar red flags months before the funding was approved.
GHF has defended its work, claiming to have delivered over 95 million meals in Gaza and denying responsibility for the violence at its distribution sites. Critics argue the numbers are misleading and the harm far outweighs the aid provided.
Fallout
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, the GHF continues to face scrutiny not just from rights groups, but from the very communities it claims to serve. Protesters outside Acree’s home made clear they view the organization not as a lifeline, but as part of the machinery enabling Gaza’s suffering.
And with major aid organizations still blocked from operating at full scale, many worry that the window to prevent mass starvation is closing.
FAQs
Who is John Acree?
He is the interim director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Why are protesters targeting GHF?
They blame it for unsafe aid sites and complicity in civilian deaths.
How many have died near GHF sites?
Over 1,000 people, according to UN and health officials.
What did Acree say about the criticism?
He said GHF works within constraints and doesn’t control the war.
Is GHF the only aid group in Gaza now?
Yes, it’s the only group Israel allows to operate aid sites.
