Humanitarian Groups Demand Shutdown of Gaza Aid Foundation Backed by US and Israel
GAZA — More than 130 international charities have called for the immediate shutdown of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed aid program accused of fueling violence and risking civilian lives.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, the coalition of aid groups including Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Save the Children condemned the GHF as a failed and dangerous system. Since it began operating in late May, over 500 Palestinians have died and nearly 4,000 have been injured while trying to access food and supplies at GHF-controlled sites, according to data cited from medics, eyewitnesses, and the Hamas-run health ministry.
“Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying to feed their families,” the statement read.
The GHF replaced a previous network of 400 aid sites that had operated during a temporary ceasefire with just four distribution centers three located in the far southwest and one in central Gaza all under military control.
Israel has rejected claims of wrongdoing. Officials say the GHF was created to deliver aid directly to civilians without interference from Hamas, arguing that the system is essential to prevent diversion of resources. The Israeli military also denied that its forces target civilians collecting aid, saying any reports of harm are under investigation.
However, the United Nations and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly raised alarms about the program. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Friday the setup was “inherently unsafe” and warned it had militarized the delivery of aid.
The plan’s critics say it forces civilians many of them malnourished, orphaned, or elderly to walk through dangerous zones, risking gunfire just to receive food. Humanitarian workers report that some families are now too weak to even reach the distribution points.
“Children have died. Caregivers have been shot. We’re not seeing humanitarian assistance we’re seeing desperation met with bullets,” said one representative from the aid coalition.
An investigation by Israeli outlet Haaretz published last week cited unnamed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who claimed they received direct orders to fire at unarmed civilians near the aid zones. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the report as “malicious falsehoods.” The military has also denied any deliberate targeting of civilians.
In response to growing criticism, the IDF announced it would improve access to the aid centers by adding fencing and directional signs. A statement released Monday said the military would continue reviewing its operational procedures to ensure civilian safety.
Despite the announcement, the aid groups say the system remains fundamentally flawed.
“This is not a humanitarian solution,” the joint statement said. “This is a manufactured crisis disguised as aid.”
Calls for the program’s dismantling continue to grow as food shortages worsen across the Gaza Strip. Aid workers describe increasingly dire scenes at distribution sites, where chaos, panic, and armed conflict are frequent.
As diplomatic efforts falter and famine conditions deepen, the future of the GHF remains uncertain but international pressure is mounting.
