Over 130 charities and NGOs are demanding the closure of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This aid agency, supported by the US and Israel, has been distributing aid since May but faces intense criticism for its deadly operations.

Reports indicate that over 500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,000 injured at GHF distribution centers. Organizations like Oxfam and Save the Children highlight that Palestinians are forced into "militarized" zones to access essential supplies.

These groups issued a joint statement Tuesday, emphasizing the impossible choice Gazans face: "starve or risk being shot" while seeking food. They noted that orphaned children and caregivers are among the dead, with children harmed in over half of these incidents.

The GHF was established after Israel imposed a blockade following a ceasefire breakdown. It replaced around 400 international aid distribution centers, yet aid agencies argue this new system "is not a humanitarian response" to Gaza's severe hunger.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the GHF system as "inherently unsafe," particularly after an Israeli newspaper reported orders for soldiers to shoot civilians at overcrowded sites.

NGOs are pushing for an end to this deadly scheme and a return to the UN-led aid mechanisms that operated before March. They also urge Israel to lift its blockade on humanitarian and commercial supplies into Gaza.

Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2606505/middle-east