More than 130 humanitarian organizations, including major groups like Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Save the Children, have called for the immediate closure of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid initiative supported by the US and Israel.
The coalition of NGOs argues that the GHF has worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza rather than alleviating it. Since its launch in late May, over 500 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 4,000 injured while attempting to access aid, according to reports from medical personnel, eyewitnesses, and the Hamas-run health ministry.
The joint statement released on Tuesday claims the aid system violates core humanitarian principles, placing over two million Gazans in heavily militarized and overcrowded zones where they are exposed to daily gunfire. The statement adds, “Palestinians are forced to choose between starvation and risking their lives for food. Orphaned children and caregivers are among those killed, and children have been injured in more than half of the reported attacks at these distribution points.”
The GHF has replaced over 400 aid distribution centers established during the temporary Israel-Hamas truce with only four military-run sites—three located in Gaza’s southwest and one in the central region. UN agencies, including Secretary-General António Guterres, have sharply criticized the new setup, calling it “inherently unsafe” and accusing it of militarizing aid efforts.
Israel has denied targeting civilians and maintains that its troops do not deliberately shoot at those seeking aid. Officials claim the GHF ensures food delivery directly to civilians while bypassing Hamas control. However, a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz cited unnamed IDF soldiers who alleged they were ordered to fire warning shots at unarmed civilians near aid centers to disperse crowds.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the allegations as “malicious lies,” while the Israeli military stated on Monday that it is revising access protocols. Planned improvements include installing fencing, directional markers, and warning signs to better manage crowds at distribution sites.
Despite these assurances, aid groups insist the GHF model is deeply flawed. “This is not a humanitarian operation,” the NGOs emphasized. “Families are too weak from hunger to even try to compete for rations. The system fails to meet even the most basic standards of humanitarian care.”
NEWS SOURCE: BBC
