Amid growing international scrutiny, Amnesty International released a report Thursday condemning Israel and the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), accusing them of weaponizing aid distribution in Gaza to perpetuate genocide during Israel’s war with Hamas.
The report alleges the GHF’s militarized aid centers — established after Israel replaced a United Nations-led distribution network — have become deadly zones for Palestinians seeking food, according to the Associated Press.
Amnesty claims Israel has “turned aid-seeking into a booby trap for desperate starved Palestinians,” creating “a deadly mix of hunger and disease pushing the population past breaking point.”
Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that the daily loss of life is “the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and lethal methods of distribution.”
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 500 deaths near GHF sites in the past month. These centers, guarded by private contractors and located near Israeli military positions, have seen repeated incidents of violence.
Witnesses and officials accuse Israeli forces of firing on civilians approaching the aid hubs. The Israeli army maintains it only fires warning shots or targets individuals deemed suspicious.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Amnesty’s findings, accusing the organization of aligning with Hamas and spreading “propaganda lies.”
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry and COGAT, Israel’s defense body overseeing aid coordination, claim over 3,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza since May 19, delivering food equivalent to 56 million meals.
However, humanitarian groups argue this is far from sufficient to meet the dire needs of Gaza’s 2 million residents.
The World Food Programme echoed these concerns in a June report, noting that food consumption and diversity in Gaza have plummeted to their lowest levels since the conflict began.
It cited closed crossings, escalating violence, and soaring prices as key barriers to access.
Amnesty’s report follows a joint statement from more than 165 international charities and NGOs demanding an end to the GHF’s operations. They argue the initiative violates humanitarian principles and enables Israel to use food as a weapon.
GHF, led by an ally of President Donald Trump, began distributing aid on May 26 after a three-month Israeli blockade that pushed Gaza to the brink of famine.
The U.S. recently pledged $30 million to support the foundation, marking its first known contribution.
GHF denies allegations of violence and insists its staff have not opened fire. In a statement, it said it has delivered over 52 million meals and invited other aid groups to collaborate.
“Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome other humanitarian groups to join us,” the group said.
Israel has defended the alternative aid plan, citing concerns that Hamas was diverting supplies — an accusation the U.N. and other aid organizations firmly reject.
