The United Nations and multiple humanitarian groups have strongly criticized a US- and Israel-supported aid initiative in Gaza, following a deadly incident that occurred during an aid distribution in Rafah.
Fatalities at Aid Site Spark Outrage
At least three Palestinians were killed and 46 injured when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd that surged toward an aid point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Seven others remain missing. The Israeli military claimed its forces had only fired warning shots outside the distribution area and later regained control. GHF denied the reported casualties.
UN and Humanitarian Groups Speak Out
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, described images from the distribution site as "heartbreaking" and criticized the GHF for failing to meet internationally accepted standards of impartial and safe aid delivery.
“We have a clear, coordinated, and principled system for aid distribution, developed with member state support. What GHF is doing does not align with that,” Dujarric said.
Palestinian Officials: ‘Deliberate Massacre’
Gaza’s Government Media Office condemned the incident, accusing Israeli forces of firing on starving civilians misled into thinking they would receive aid. “This was a deliberate massacre and a war crime,” the office stated, adding that the tragedy highlights Israel’s failure to manage the humanitarian disaster it has helped create.
Israel and US Defend Initiative
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged a brief disruption at the site but maintained that order was quickly restored. He defended the project as a coordinated effort with the US to distribute food safely and claimed there was no evidence of widespread hunger in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the US State Department dismissed criticisms as “style complaints.” Spokesperson Tammy Bruce blamed Hamas for trying to obstruct the aid and insisted the initiative was effectively delivering assistance. “This is working,” she said, citing the delivery of thousands of aid boxes.
GHF: ‘Operations Back to Normal’
In a statement, GHF said the demand at the site had overwhelmed its team temporarily, prompting them to fall back to maintain order. The organization claimed it had since resumed normal operations and distributed roughly 8,000 food boxes, enough to provide about 462,000 meals.
Critics Say Initiative Militarized, Misguided
Refugees International’s Hardin Lang argued the initiative follows a military logic, not a humanitarian one. “Feeding a starving population requires a vast, coordinated effort, including medical and nutritional support — none of which are in place here,” he said. Lang also raised concerns that the effort seems more focused on relocating people into Israeli-designated “safe zones” than addressing their urgent needs.
Norwegian Refugee Council: Let Aid Groups Lead
Ahmed Bayram of the Norwegian Refugee Council urged the US and Israel to halt the program and let independent humanitarian organizations handle aid delivery. “What we’re witnessing is a tragedy unfolding. This is not how aid is supposed to be given — especially not by the same actors responsible for the destruction in Rafah,” he said.
Source: ALJazeera