Gaza Aid Group Faces Backlash Over Civilian Deaths

The head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Johnnie Moore, has defended the organization's aid operation in Gaza after hundreds of Palestinians were killed or injured near aid distribution sites. Moore disputed claims that all casualties were due to proximity to GHF sites, accusing the UN and other organizations of spreading unverified information. The GHF operation has been condemned by the UN, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying it is "inherently unsafe." The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports over 500 Palestinians killed and 4,000 injured since GHF took over aid distribution in late May. Israel's military has been accused of opening fire on crowds near aid points, with some IDF soldiers claiming they were ordered to shoot at unarmed civilians. The GHF has provided millions of meals, but the volume of aid remains inadequate, and experts warn Gaza is on the brink of famine.

The US State Department announced $30 million in funding for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private food distribution organization criticized for its opaque operations and high risk to civilians. The GHF has distributed over 46 million meals since May, but its record is marred by reports of civilians being killed and wounded trying to access its distribution hubs. The UN and other humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have criticized the GHF, calling it a "death trap" and a "slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid." The Israeli military has denied accusations of deliberately shooting at civilians near GHF hubs, but an Israeli soldier was quoted as saying that the situation near a GHF hub was a "killing field."

The head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Johnnie Moore, has disputed UN data on Palestinian deaths at aid hubs in Gaza, calling it "disinformation". The UN reported at least 410 Palestinians killed seeking food since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade, while the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said at least 549 people were killed. Moore, an evangelical preacher and former White House adviser, claimed his group's aid efforts were being undermined by a "disinformation campaign". The GHF, backed by Israel and the US, has delivered 44 million meals to Gazans, but its efforts have been criticized by other aid groups, who argue it violates humanitarian principles and will lead to further displacement of Palestinians. Critics say the GHF's distribution system is "militarised" and encourages people to move to certain areas, potentially fitting a political goal.