Despite growing concern over a number of deadly attacks on Palestinian aid seekers close to its distribution centers in the besieged territory, the United States claims to have approved $30 million in direct funding for the contentious Israel-backed organization that provides aid to Gaza.
According to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, “We call on other countries to also support the GHF, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and its critical work.”
Since its founding in May, the GHF, which is supported by the US and Israel, has drawn a lot of criticism. The group was established as a result of growing pressure on Israel to lift its months-long total blockade of humanitarian aid entering the Strip. Most of Gaza’s population was on the verge of starvation as a result of the blockade.
Working with the GHF with Israeli troops supported by privately funded and armed US security personnel is prohibited by international aid organizations and the UN, which claim it is in violation of fundamental human rights.
Palestinians who attempt to collect food aid are being shot at in new video clips.
According to the Gaza Government Media Office on Thursday, at least 549 Palestinians were killed as they waited for food to be distributed at GHF sites. Officially a private organization, the GHF has denied that any of its aid points have experienced deadly incidents.
John Acree, the GHF’s interim executive director, praised the US contribution and declared that time needed for unity and collaboration.
In a statement, he said, “We look forward to other aid and humanitarian organizations joining us so that we can feed even more Gazans, together.”
When asked about the operation’s criticism, Pigott claimed that the organization has distributed 46 million meals thus far, which is “absolutely incredible” and “should be applauded.”
According to him, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s “pursuit of peace in the region” account for their financial support.
Nothing but death, exactly.
A witness who has repeatedly tried unsuccessfully to get aid from the distribution centers described the agonizing circumstances he encountered while attempting to reach the hubs.
Atar Riyad, a father of eight who has since been relocated to Gaza City, reported to Al Jazeera that he had frequently traveled to the distribution centers close to the so-called Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza. Early in the morning, according to Riyad, thousands of hungry Palestinians would line up near the sites.
He claimed to have once witnessed trucks rushing over aid seekers. On another occasion, he observed young people’s bodies that appeared to have been shot.
“We left, and all we saw was death.” He claimed that there was nothing but death.
Riyad claimed that some of his closest friends and neighbors had died at the distribution centers. He claimed that “all died as they attempted to feed their families.”
The UCLA Law Promise Institute Europe executive director, Kate Mackintosh, warned Al Jazeera that GHF employees could face criminal responsibility for aid seekers’ murders close to the organization’s distribution points.
Although it’s not immediately clear why these people are being targeted and killed, she said, “I think it’s pretty obvious that these are unarmed civilians desperately trying to get food for their families.”
“Fingering on someone in that situation is obviously a war crime.”
She argued that GHF employees “must consider the possibility of being complicit in those crimes.”
They could be held criminally liable for engaging in those crimes if they are aware that this is going to happen, or even if they are aware of the significant risk of this happening, which it appears they are.
An Israeli strike on a Gazan street on Thursday caused 18 people to die in the most recent hostility surrounding the distribution of food.
A Palestinian police unit, according to witnesses, had gathered to seize bags of flour from gangs looting aid convoys after a crowd of people gathered.
Armed gangs have been thwarting UN efforts to distribute food, and there have been large numbers of desperate people loading supplies from convoys.
Members of Sahm, a security force tasked with stopping looters and cracking down on retailers who sell stolen aid at high prices, appeared to be the targets of the strike in Deir el-Balah’s central town on Thursday. Members of the unit’s affiliated organizations include the Hamas-led Interior Ministry in Gaza.
