Inside the Turmoil of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: Chaos, Controversy, and Questions
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by the U.S. and Israel, has stirred up quite a bit of controversy since it began operations in the Gaza Strip. What started as a hopeful humanitarian effort has quickly become tangled in legal troubles, conflicting reports, and serious ethical questions.
What’s Going On With GHF in Switzerland?
Just a few months after launching, the GHF announced it’s shutting down its Swiss branch. This move follows warnings from Swiss authorities accusing the foundation of breaking the rules that govern registered foundations in the country. According to Switzerland’s Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (ESA), GHF’s Swiss operation lacked some pretty basic requirements:
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No Swiss-based board member with signing authority
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Fewer than the required three board members
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No Swiss bank account or official Swiss address
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Absence of an official auditor
Because of these shortcomings, the ESA believes the Swiss branch never really kicked off its operations and is currently inactive. The foundation was urged to clarify its status, and apparently, those conversations are ongoing.
Interesting fact: GHF initially registered in both Delaware (U.S.) and Geneva (Switzerland). The Swiss branch was supposedly meant to attract donors who preferred giving outside the U.S. system. But it looks like that plan didn’t go as smoothly as hoped.
Who’s Behind GHF?
Transparency has been a major issue with GHF. Despite its significant activity in Gaza, hardly anyone knows where the funding is coming from. Sources told CBS News that GHF has hired at least 300 American contractors — all heavily armed and reportedly “given as much ammo as they can carry.” This detail has raised eyebrows in the humanitarian world.
One document from GHF claims that the foundation operates with a board that “mirrors” the U.S. entity and adheres to the same values. But a glance at the Swiss registration documents reveals three named individuals:
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David Papazian, an Armenian based in the U.K.
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Lolk Samuel Marcel Henderson, an American living in Virginia
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David Kohler, a Swiss national who was later removed from the board
Interestingly, after May 2025, documents show that Kohler was dropped from the board, and a Swiss accounting firm that audited the foundation ended its relationship with GHF. This abrupt change only adds to the murky picture of the foundation’s operations.
Legal Pressure and NGO Concerns
The Swiss NGO TRIAL International has been pushing for a deeper investigation into GHF’s activities. They filed formal complaints with Swiss authorities, concerned that GHF might be violating Swiss law—especially regarding the use of private military services.
Why does this matter? Under Swiss law, organizations that employ private security or military personnel must follow strict regulations, particularly to ensure they don’t violate the Geneva Conventions. TRIAL International’s director, Philip Grant, stressed that Switzerland not only has a moral obligation but a legal one to make sure groups operating from its soil abide by international humanitarian law.
In Grant’s words:
"Switzerland has a moral but also a particular legal obligation to make sure that entities operating from its territory, themselves, respect the Geneva Conventions."
His organization wants to know exactly how much GHF has been active in Geneva and whether they received the necessary approvals to operate militarized security forces.
Conflict on the Ground: What Happened at the Aid Distribution Hub?
Things got tense in Gaza this past Tuesday at one of GHF’s food distribution centers in southern Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health reported that Israeli forces fired shots, killing one Palestinian and wounding 47 others while people were lining up for aid. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed they only fired “warning shots” to restore order.
GHF, for its part, denied that any shots were fired at Palestinians and insisted there were no casualties. But video footage reviewed by CBS News showed injured Palestinians and chaotic scenes with hundreds crowding around the distribution hub. This incident exposes a serious gap between official statements and the reality on the ground.
A Doctor’s Perspective: Concerns From Inside Gaza
Dr. James Smith, who has firsthand experience working inside Gaza, raised alarms about the presence of armed contractors at aid points and the strategic placement of these distribution hubs in southern Gaza. Smith worries these hubs might be part of a broader effort to forcibly move Palestinians southward, away from their homes.
Smith described the conditions as "undignified" and "inhumane," comparing the scenes to people being corralled like cattle under the blazing sun. This, combined with the militarized security presence, sets off alarm bells for humanitarian experts.
Even the United Nations has reportedly refused to work with GHF. Some former GHF workers have resigned in recent days, citing their inability to comply with core humanitarian principles if they remained part of the organization.
Smith summarized the issue bluntly:
“The risks posed by armed military actors, particularly those who are parties to a conflict, also providing humanitarian assistance should be and has been roundly condemned.”
He stressed that no credible humanitarian group or expert supports armed groups offering aid, as it blurs the lines between combat and relief, endangering both civilians and aid workers.
Key Takeaways and What’s Next for GHF
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GHF’s Swiss branch is closing: The foundation says all future operations will be solely based in the U.S., with the Swiss branch being a “contingency” that never became operational.
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Opaque funding and staffing: The group’s finances remain a mystery, while reports of heavily armed American contractors raise serious ethical questions.
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Legal scrutiny continues: Swiss authorities and watchdogs are pressing for answers, focusing on compliance with laws regulating foundations and private security services.
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Humanitarian concerns: Medical workers, NGOs, and even the UN are wary or outright rejecting collaboration with GHF due to its methods and security arrangements.
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On-the-ground dangers: Aid distribution events have turned chaotic, with injuries and conflicting accounts of violence highlighting the fragile security situation.
Why This Matters
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s story isn’t just about one NGO struggling with bureaucracy or legal paperwork. It’s about the complex, often dangerous intersection of humanitarian aid, military involvement, and geopolitical conflict. When aid groups are armed or militarized, it challenges the very notion of neutrality that makes humanitarian work possible. Civilians caught in the crossfire of this conflict face compounded risks—not just from fighting, but from the organizations meant to help them.
Final Thoughts
As the Gaza conflict continues, the international community is watching closely. Foundations like GHF have a tremendous responsibility to uphold transparency, legality, and above all, humanitarian principles. With the Swiss operation winding down and more scrutiny on its U.S. branch, GHF is at a crossroads. Will it reshape its mission in a way that truly prioritizes the people of Gaza without raising more controversy? Only time will tell.
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