United Nations human rights experts have called for the urgent dismantling of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), accusing it of facilitating war crimes and enabling Israel’s military agenda under the guise of humanitarian aid, reported the Al Jazeera.
The GHF, created by Israel in February 2025 with US backing, was ostensibly meant to distribute aid in Gaza. However, whistleblowers and international observers allege that it has become a “death trap” for Palestinians, with Israeli forces and foreign military contractors reportedly opening indiscriminate fire on civilians—often women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—at aid distribution sites.
According to UN experts, the operations of the GHF violate core principles of humanitarian law, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. They highlighted that under the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations, Israel—as the occupying power—is legally bound to protect civilians and ensure access to essential services.
“Leaving a state accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in charge of feeding its victims without oversight is an overt hypocrisy and an insult to humanitarian principles,” the experts said.
Since GHF took over many responsibilities previously managed by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,000 injured while seeking food, including at least 859 deaths directly linked to incidents near GHF distribution points since late May 2025.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, with over 90% of the population forcibly displaced and more than 60,000 killed since the start of Israel’s offensive. In recent weeks alone, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported 180 deaths due to malnutrition, including 93 children.
“Blocking or delaying aid to starve civilians is not just inhumane—it is a war crime,” the UN experts warned, stressing that humanitarian relief is not an act of charity but a legal duty in occupied territories. They reminded that the International Court of Justice has declared Israel’s occupation unlawful and ordered its immediate withdrawal.
The experts called for a full arms embargo on Israel, the suspension of trade and investment agreements that harm Palestinians, and accountability for corporate entities complicit in rights violations. They stressed that the credibility of humanitarian aid can only be restored by dismantling the GHF and returning aid distribution to experienced UN and civil society organizations.
