When the Boston Consulting Group's (BCG) contentious involvement in Gaza aid operations is made public, it faces criticism and internal uprising.

In reaction to the growing criticism surrounding its relationship with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Boston Consulting Group has taken a number of steps. Two senior partners were dismissed, the management consulting business halted operations, withdrew its project team from Tel Aviv, apologized publicly, and initiated an internal inquiry.

The Boston Consulting Group had supported the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation from October 2024 until this week. The foundation was founded to develop a new way to deliver aid to Gaza without going through established channels like the UN.

Among other things, the consulting firm contributed to the logistics, business plan, and operational framework of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which was crucial to its establishment and functioning.

However, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation soon came under fire for using private security contractors, having few distribution locations, and being heavily monitored by Israel. To make matters worse, hundreds of Palestinians were murdered or injured while attempting to obtain help in a number of terrible episodes that transpired when the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operations in the Gaza Strip.

External criticism emerged after The Washington Post published a thorough reconstruction that revealed Boston Consulting Group's role. Internal dissension also arose as soon as the information was made public. Workers demanded accountability and transparency in a letter to leadership, warning that the consulting firm could be involved in grave human rights abuses.

After the uproar, BCG CEO Christoph Schweizer expressed regret to the entire company for the disappointment that had been inflicted on employees, clients, and the overall community. Schweizer also acknowledged process failures.

Schweizer told BCG alumni that the humanitarian situation and aid efforts in Gaza were being scrutinized, which raised serious concerns about their involvement and the approval process for the work. The Washington Post was able to access this statement. The apolitical and humanitarian-focused approach that BCG used in this battle was one of the principles, policies, and directions that were broken by that work.