More than 130 international NGOs and humanitarian organisations have called for the immediate shutdown of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed aid initiative, amid growing evidence that it is putting civilians at lethal risk.
Since the GHF began operations in late May, over 500 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 4,000 injured while seeking aid, according to Tuesday’s joint statement issued by prominent groups including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International.
“Not a Humanitarian Response”
The organisations accuse the GHF of violating humanitarian principles by replacing hundreds of aid distribution points with just four military-controlled centres in Gaza, forcing starving civilians to trek long distances through dangerous areas.
“Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot,” the statement reads. “This is not a humanitarian response. This is a deadly militarisation of aid Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.”
Eyewitnesses, medics, and officials from the Hamas-run health ministry report near-daily incidents of Israeli forces firing on unarmed civilians at GHF aid sites.Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Children, caregivers, and orphaned youth have been killed in over half of the reported incidents.
GHF: Replacing a Functional Aid Network
The GHF system was introduced by Israel and supported by the US after Israel imposed a three-month aid blockade on Gaza earlier this year. It replaced over 400 humanitarian access points with four fenced, militarised distribution centres—three in southwest Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and one in the centre.
The move has been heavily criticised by UN agencies since its inception. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently called the GHF “inherently unsafe” and warned that it bypasses established humanitarian structures while putting civilians in harm’s way.
Allegations of Targeted Shootings
An investigation by Haaretz cited anonymous IDF soldiers claiming they were instructed to shoot near unarmed civilians to disperse crowds at aid sites. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have denied the allegations, calling them “malicious falsehoods.”
Nevertheless, footage and field reports continue to indicate a pattern of violence surrounding GHF sites Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Response from Israel and the US
The Israeli military said it is reviewing incidents and plans to improve security at GHF sites by adding fencing, signage, and directional markers. Despite international condemnation, both Israel and the US have defended the GHF system, claiming it ensures aid delivery free from Hamas interference.
“The GHF provides direct aid to civilians and avoids diversion by terrorist actors,” an Israeli spokesperson said, even as global NGOs point out that the risk to civilians is unacceptable.
Humanitarian Collapse and Starvation
Charities say the GHF has not only failed to provide reliable humanitarian aid, but also exacerbated the crisis. Severe hunger and malnutrition continue to rise in Gaza. “Many families tell us they are now too weak to compete for food rations,” the joint statement notes.
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Call for Immediate Shutdown
Amnesty International and other signatories are calling on the US and Israel to immediately dismantle the GHF system and restore a safe, impartial humanitarian aid network overseen by neutral international actors.
As the Gaza humanitarian disaster worsens, critics argue that continuing to militarise aid only fuels desperation and undermines the global standards meant to protect civilians in conflict zones.
