Over 100 Humanitarian Groups Demand End to Israel-U.S. Backed Gaza Aid System Amid Rising Death Toll
More than a hundred human rights organizations and international aid charities have united to call for scrapping the controversial Israel-U.S.-backed humanitarian aid distribution system in Gaza. Their demand comes after at least 500 Palestinians were reportedly killed and another 4,000 injured since this system began operating just over a month ago.
Prominent NGOs including Oxfam, Save the Children, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Amnesty International joined forces Monday to issue a powerful joint statement urging immediate action. They want to shut down the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) operation and restore the United Nations-led distribution framework that existed before Israel’s stringent blockade of humanitarian supplies.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: A Controversial New Aid Approach
The GHF system replaced more than 400 aid distribution points that operated during a cease-fire period from January to March with just four heavily militarized hubs controlled by the Israeli military. Instead of decentralized access points scattered throughout Gaza, the two million residents now have to travel long distances to a handful of guarded locations to get food and life-saving supplies.
These four hubs, which opened their doors on May 27 in Rafah, are secured by armed private contractors — a move that many NGOs argue has turned aid distribution into a dangerous, overcrowded, and militarized zone. According to the statement, these conditions have resulted in some of the deadliest weeks Gaza has seen since the conflict ignited on October 7, 2023.
Deadly Consequences of Centralized Aid Hubs
The humanitarian groups paint a grim picture: Palestinians face a harrowing choice every day — starve or risk their lives trying to access food and supplies. Aid recipients are forced to walk for hours through active conflict zones to reach these hubs. Once they arrive, chaos erupts as thousands try to enter through a single access point, leading to deadly crushes, gunfire, and mass casualties.
Tragically, children have accounted for nearly half of the casualties around these centers. Emergency medical treatment is almost impossible to get because Gaza’s health care system is shattered, ambulances struggle to reach victims, and hospitals operate on the brink of collapse.
“Today, Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying desperately to reach food to feed their families,” the NGOs stated bluntly. They also accused the Israeli government of deliberately dismantling the existing humanitarian system by enforcing a blockade that restricts aid and commercial goods, then replacing it with a militarized alternative that fails to protect civilians or meet basic needs.
Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening faster than at any point in nearly two years. Over 100 days have passed since Israel reimposed a near-total blockade on aid and commercial goods, which has choked off critical supplies and shattered the economy. The UN-led system that once allowed thousands of distribution points throughout Gaza was more effective at reaching civilians — now, under the GHF, millions are left in the lurch.
Experienced humanitarian actors stand ready and willing to deliver life-saving assistance at scale, the groups said, but the current military-controlled framework is making it impossible.
Accusations and Denials
The GHF denies the allegations that its centers have become killing zones and claims it is the victim of an orchestrated misinformation campaign aimed at pushing it out of Gaza. Yet, eyewitnesses and medical workers on the ground report incidents of people being shot by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) while trying to reach aid.
The casualty figures come from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is Hamas-run, but they’re corroborated by multiple independent sources. Last week, the United Nations Human Rights Office documented at least 410 Palestinians killed by IDF gunfire or shelling while attempting to collect food boxes from aid hubs. The U.N. called these incidents a “likely war crime.”
Further investigations are underway into reports of nearly 100 more fatalities linked to the small number of food convoys operated by the United Nations and other aid providers still able to operate in Gaza.
Israeli Defense Forces Respond
The Israel Defense Forces have acknowledged firing warning shots toward, but not directly at, crowds gathering near aid centers. However, Israeli media reported that the IDF admitted to incidents of “inaccurate” artillery fire that caused casualties and some deaths.
The IDF told the BBC it was investigating the reports and promised thorough examinations of any alleged deviations from military law or directives. They pledged to take further action if necessary.
On social media platform X, the IDF stated it had “learned lessons” from the incidents and implemented changes designed to improve safety around the aid hubs. This included reorganizing access routes, installing signage, opening new pathways, setting up barriers and checkpoints, and adjusting layouts to better monitor aid deliveries.
Notably, the IDF temporarily closed the Tel al-Sultan distribution center in Rafah and opened a new one nearby to reduce civilian congestion and ensure the safety of both civilians and soldiers.
The Logic Behind Israel’s Blockade and Aid Mechanism
Israel insists that the blockade and the new aid distribution model are necessary to prevent Hamas from siphoning off supplies for its own military use. The blockade was originally imposed to restrict weapons and materials that could fuel the ongoing conflict, and the centralized aid system is intended to provide tighter control over deliveries.
However, humanitarian groups argue that the system disproportionately harms Gaza’s civilians, exacerbating malnutrition, medical emergencies, and suffering.
Key Points to Understand:
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Over 100 human rights and aid groups demand scrapping the military-controlled Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid system.
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At least 500 Palestinians killed, 4,000 injured since GHF started operating in late May.
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Four militarized distribution hubs replaced 400+ decentralized aid points, forcing people into dangerous, overcrowded areas.
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Children make up nearly half of casualties around aid centers; Gaza’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse.
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UN Human Rights Office documents “likely war crimes” linked to IDF fire on aid seekers.
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Israel Defense Forces acknowledge “inaccurate” fire causing casualties and promise investigations and changes.
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Israel claims blockade and aid system needed to stop Hamas from misusing supplies.
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NGOs say current system deliberately dismantles humanitarian access, risking lives and worsening Gaza’s crisis.
What’s Next?
As the death toll rises and humanitarian conditions rapidly deteriorate, calls for urgent change grow louder. The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and reinstate a fair, safe, and effective aid distribution network in Gaza.
The question remains: Can a balance be struck between Israel’s security concerns and the dire humanitarian needs of Gaza’s civilian population?
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