Calls to Shut Down Controversial Gaza Aid Foundation Echo Globally

A coalition of more than 130 charities, including Oxfam and Amnesty, demands the dismantling of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, alleging it exacerbates violence against those seeking aid while compromising humanitarian principles.

More than 130 international charities and NGOs have united in a strong call for the closure of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which receives backing from Israeli and US authorities. Since its inception in late May following Israel’s blockade of Gaza, over 500 Palestinians have reportedly died while attempting to access aid, with nearly 4,000 others injured. Prominent organizations such as Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty have stated that the situation is dire, asserting that Israeli forces and armed factions routinely open fire on individuals seeking assistance.

Israel, however, defends its GHF program, contending that it offers direct help to those in need while circumventing interference from Hamas. Yet, a joint statement from the humanitarian organizations argues that the GHF breaches core humanitarian principles by compelling an estimated two million Gazans into overcrowded and militarized areas where they face constant risks of gunfire. Eyewitness accounts, including reports from medics and the Hamas-run health ministry, have documented daily casualties among those seeking aid since the GHF began operating.

The GHF system has replaced 400 pre-existing aid distribution points with merely four military-controlled sites: three located in the far southwest of Gaza and one centrally. The statement from the charities highlights the dilemma facing Gazans: they are forced to choose between starvation and risking their lives in pursuit of sustenance for their families. Tragically, many orphaned children and caregivers have been among the casualties, with reports indicating that children have been harmed in more than half of the incidents recorded at these distribution points.

The GHF initiative has drawn the ire of UN agencies, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres labelling it "inherently unsafe." The United Nations has consistently criticized the plan for its potential to militarize humanitarian assistance, disrupt existing distribution networks, and force civilians into treacherous journeys for food. In response to escalating tensions, the Israeli military claims to be investigating civilian casualties reported at GHF sites.

A recent report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that unnamed soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) received orders to disperse unarmed civilians near aid distribution points, allegedly firing shots to achieve this. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently rejected such claims, labeling them as "malicious falsehoods."

In light of ongoing violence, the IDF announced it is re-evaluating access to GHF sites, with plans to improve safety through new fencing and clear directional signage. However, the coalition of more than 130 aid organizations remains firm in their position, stating that the GHF system is not a legitimate humanitarian response. In their plea, they emphasize the dire circumstances faced by families in Gaza, many of which are now too weakened to compete for the scant food rations available.