In a dramatic escalation of humanitarian tensions, over 165 international charities and NGOs, including Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Save the Children, have issued a powerful call for the immediate closure of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This urgent demand follows alarming reports of violence against civilians seeking aid, with Gaza’s health ministry revealing that more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured near GHF distribution sites in just the past month.
The GHF, backed by the United States and Israel, claims to have delivered over 52 million meals in five weeks, but critics argue that the operational framework is fundamentally flawed and dangerous. Oxfam’s policy lead in the occupied Palestinian territory, Bushra Khaledi, emphasized that the current setup violates humanitarian principles, stating, “This is not what a humanitarian response looks like.” She condemned the militarized distribution of aid, which she claims puts civilians at risk, describing desperate lines for food as “a death sentence.”
Khaledi highlighted the dire needs of the Palestinian population, asserting that a mere box of pasta and flour fails to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The ongoing blockade has left tens of thousands facing starvation, with critical supplies like clean water, medical aid, and fuel severely restricted. “Food alone cannot meet the scale of need,” she warned, stressing that the situation in Gaza is not just about hunger but encompasses a broader humanitarian catastrophe.
As the international community watches closely, the call to close the GHF underscores the urgent need for a reevaluation of aid strategies in conflict zones. The stakes are high, and time is running out for those trapped in Gaza’s escalating crisis. The world must respond—lives depend on it.