Ex-contractor’s testimony raises alarm over alleged violence at US‑Israel funded aid sites
GAZA STRIP — Gaza Aid contactor working at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid sites has come forward with shocking claims. He says guards opened fire on unarmed Palestinians seeking food.
The ex-contractor spoke to the press said he saw guards fire machine guns from watchtowers without any threat from aid seekers. “Another contractor… opened up with 15 to 20 shots of repetitive weapons fire at the crowd,” he said. “A Palestinian man dropped to the ground motionless… and they laughed about it.”
He also described a culture of impunity. “Team leaders said, ‘if you feel threatened, shoot shoot to kill and ask questions later,'” he revealed. He added that CCTV footage showed violent confrontations at the sites.
GHF has denied the claims. In a statement, the foundation said no civilians came under fire at its distribution points. It described the source as a “disgruntled former contractor” dismissed for misconduct.
The allegations follow a UN alert that Israeli forces killed over 400 Palestinians at aid sites since GHF began operations in late May. GHF posted that it delivered more than 52 million meals in five weeks, claiming its operations bypass Hamas.
Observers say critics from aid groups like Oxfam and Save the Children argue the program forces people into active conflict zones to collect food. They demand the aid model be scrapped.
A media‑verified video shows long, crowded queues of people in fenced aid corridors. The ex-contractor said he saw stun grenades ignite debris, pepper spray used at point‑blank range, and steel canisters strike people in the head.
His account highlights new questions over the safety and oversight of aid delivery in Gaza. It has triggered calls for an independent inquiry by humanitarian observers and fresh scrutiny of GHF protocols.
Aid access in Gaza remains volatile. Israel maintains control over humanitarian corridors, amid threats of renewed airstrikes. U.N. figures indicate high casualties across the territory since October 2023.
This story is developing as aid agencies and watchdogs verify the former contractor’s claims and monitor conditions at distribution sites.
