By Michelle Nichols and Daphne Psaledakis UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S.-backed humanitarian organization will start work in Gaza by the end of May under a heavily-criticized aid distribution plan,

A controversial new American-backed organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has announced it will begin delivering aid to the besieged territory within two weeks and says it has Israel’s approval.

A plan initiated by Israel to use private companies – instead of the UN and aid groups – to transport aid into Gaza was set to begin operations at the end of May. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian