American Veterans Bring Hope to Gaza Amid Conflict
In the heart of conflict-torn Gaza, a group of American veterans is working tirelessly to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), staffed by dedicated former U.S. military personnel, has become a crucial lifeline for those facing food insecurity in the region. Through their firsthand accounts, these veterans offer a perspective that often differs from mainstream media portrayals, highlighting both the challenges and rewards of their humanitarian mission.
Jason Murray, Scott Weimer, and Brandon Zielinski represent the backbone of GHF’s operations in Gaza. Since beginning their work in May 2025, approximately a year and a half after the conflict erupted, they’ve had to adapt quickly to an unpredictable environment. “We kind of built a plane in flight… not even knowing where we were going to land,” Murray explains, drawing parallels between his current humanitarian work and his previous military experience. For Weimer, joining GHF felt like a “natural fit,” allowing him to fill a critical need that others couldn’t. His service background, combined with Murray’s, has proven invaluable in identifying the right personnel for specific roles within the organization. Zielinski brings his own unique skill set to the table, particularly his experience with language barriers from bilateral military training, which has facilitated smoother coordination with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) who work alongside GHF to ensure safe aid delivery.
The reality on the ground in Gaza presents a complex picture of human suffering and resilience. All three veterans describe scenes of desperate Palestinians seeking food amid the chaos of war. However, they also acknowledge the presence of malicious actors who exploit the situation. Hamas operatives and local gang members frequently attempt to disrupt aid distribution, particularly targeting Palestinian locals who work with GHF. “From a security standpoint, our goal is to provide aid in a safe and secure manner. Hamas does operate in this area,” Murray explains, emphasizing that such threats are taken seriously by GHF personnel. Weimer confirms this reality, noting that while they “absolutely see Hamas in the background,” their primary focus remains on delivering aid to civilians in need. He commends Zielinski’s team for maintaining composure in potentially frightening situations when confronted with overwhelming crowds of hungry people.
Security concerns shape every aspect of GHF’s operations. Before each shift, Zielinski’s team receives an IDF briefing on the security situation from the previous 48 hours. The secure distribution sites (SDS) have evolved over time in response to emerging threats. “We’ve had pistols seen before, there’s been AKs seen before. There’s grenades that went off,” Zielinski reveals, describing the dangerous environment they navigate daily. His team has developed a system for identifying suspicious individuals, documenting patterns, and sharing intelligence that can help apprehend those with malicious intent. “We’ll see down the line that, okay, ‘Hey, we’ve seen this person before, he looked very suspicious,’ and next thing you know, this is a guy that has a pistol on him,” he explains. This vigilance is crucial for protecting both aid workers and the civilians they serve.
When asked what Americans should understand about the situation in Gaza, all three veterans emphasize the importance of looking beyond media narratives. Weimer expresses frustration with what he sees as misleading portrayals of GHF’s work, telling Fox News Digital that he regularly calls home to advise his family not to “believe the hype.” He feels strongly that the media depictions are “so far askew” from reality. “I guess that’s what I would tell the American people is, you know, these people that are here, these military veterans that lived a long honorable life, we would never be a part of something [like] what I’ve seen in the media,” Weimer states. For these veterans, their mission is deeply personal – a continuation of their service ethos now directed toward humanitarian ends. Zielinski highlights the passion that drives GHF volunteers, emphasizing their unwavering commitment to helping civilians in desperate circumstances.
Despite operating in an extremely challenging environment, GHF has made remarkable progress in its humanitarian mission. Since beginning operations in May, the organization reports delivering more than 160 million meals to Palestinians in need. This achievement is all the more impressive considering the constant threats from terrorist groups and criticism from some international quarters. Nevertheless, GHF continues to call on the global community to join their efforts in providing essential food aid to Gaza’s civilian population. As Zielinski succinctly puts it, “Everybody wants to help, and everybody sees the reward for doing so… We all just enjoy doing it.” Their work stands as a powerful testament to humanity’s capacity for compassion even amid the darkest circumstances, with these American veterans bringing their skills, experience, and dedication to those who need it most in Gaza.
