Over 130 NGOs Demand Shutdown of US-Israeli Gaza Aid Scheme Amid Rising Death Toll
Over 130 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International, have demanded an immediate end to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) controversial aid scheme, backed by the US and Israel. This call to action follows the reported death of more than 500 people and the wounding of nearly 4,000 others since the aid scheme began operations in late May, after a three-month total blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces.
Background
The GHF started operations in late May, following a three-month total blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces. According to the NGOs' joint statement, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and around 4,000 wounded by Israeli troops while trying to access food and aid supplies. Today, Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying desperately to reach food to feed their families,
the statement said. The signatories condemned what they described as routine
shootings by Israeli forces and armed groups targeting desperate civilians.
Controversy Surrounding the GHF
The GHF, which has been widely condemned by human rights organizations for its lack of transparency and accountability, has been accused of fostering the forced displacement
of Palestinians in Gaza. The aid distribution points are reportedly in militarized zones, causing a deadly dilemma for the starving population.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has condemned the deadly chaos surrounding food distribution in Gaza, calling the situation unbearable
for families forced to choose between starvation and risking death. People in Gaza are facing an unbearable dilemma: risk your family starving or risk your life to maybe get food at an Israeli-US distribution site,
MSF posted.
International Reactions and Developments
Switzerland has initiated proceedings to dissolve the Geneva branch of GHF, citing legal shortcomings in its establishment. The Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (ESA) noted that the GHF had not fulfilled certain legal requirements, including having the correct number of board members, a postal address, or a Swiss bank account.
Meanwhile, Israel and the US are reportedly working to block a UN and European-led initiative to pass a Security Council resolution aimed at halting the GHF's aid distribution mechanism. The issue of aid distribution is scheduled to be discussed again in another Security Council session.
Current Situation
Despite these controversies and the rising death toll, the head of the GHF, Johnnie Moore, has denied that Palestinians had been killed at its sites and insisted that the program would not be shut down. However, reports from Israeli newspaper Haaretz and other sources contradict Moore's claims, alleging that Israeli soldiers are ordered to fire at the crowds of aid seekers. The situation continues to be a point of international contention and debate.