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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by both the U.S. and Israel, has encountered opposition since it started offering aid last month. There have been reports of violence near its aid distribution points, and recently, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that they shot individuals they deemed suspicious for not following orders to stay away from the soldiers.
The United Nations has been among the most outspoken critics of GHF, with Tom Fletcher, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, calling for the international community to allow his agency to manage the efforts. Meanwhile, Israeli representatives have resisted the U.N.’s stance, asserting that GHF is effectively distributing aid without allowing Hamas to gain any advantage.
Palestinians in Gaza get aid from the U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation)
She also urged U.N. member states to support GHF “to help it safely deliver aid without it being diverted by Hamas.”
Criticism of the U.N.’s handling of GHF is not limited to Shea. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon has also criticized the global organization, accusing it of using “mafia-like” tactics against NGOs that collaborate with GHF.
Gazans are seen going to and from an aid collection spot. (Amit Segal)
“Without any discussion, without due process, the U.N. removed those NGOs from the shared aid database. That database is the central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza,” Danon told the Security Council on May 28. “This is the gravest violation of the U.N.’s own principles. It is extortion of well-meaning NGOs that refuse to kiss the ring.”
The GHF closed its distribution sites on Wednesday, saying it was working to bolster security and would reopen on Thursday. However, the reopening was delayed because of maintenance work. The sites eventually resumed aid distribution later on Thursday.
