Gaza — Authorities in Gaza have denounced what they called “shocking confessions” by a former employee of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), after the ex-security contractor described the use of pepper spray, stun grenades, and live fire against unarmed Palestinians at aid distribution sites.
The revelations came during an interview aired by Israel’s Channel 12, in which the American worker said that GHF security teams, comprised of foreign contractors, had regularly used force against desperate civilians who posed no threat while trying to obtain food.
In response, the Gaza Government Media Office issued a sharply worded statement calling the remarks “irrefutable evidence of the criminal and inhumane nature of this organisation,” accusing GHF of operating under a “security and military agenda” disguised as humanitarian aid.
“A Tool of Extortion, Not Relief”
“The GHF does not represent any form of humanitarian or relief work,” the statement read. “It is a tool of extortion, an assault on dignity, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and a blatant breach of the most basic human rights.”
The office further accused the foundation of playing a security role in areas of forced displacement, implying that its true function is militarised crowd control rather than food delivery. “This is a fake humanitarian cover for a deeply political and violent project,” it added.
GHF Denies Allegations
Following the report, GHF officials denied the claims, with Israeli media quoting the organisation as rejecting the ex-contractor’s allegations. The group maintains that it is composed of professionals in security, logistics, and humanitarian coordination, and insists that incidents at aid points are being “politicised” by those trying to undermine its operations.
However, human rights groups and international monitors have long raised red flags about the GHF’s presence in Gaza. Some have described its US- and Israeli-backed structure as bypassing established humanitarian channels such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Hunger, Violence, and Control
The GHF came under scrutiny amid reports that dozens of Palestinians had been killed trying to access food near its distribution hubs, particularly in northern Gaza, where famine-like conditions have taken hold. The United Nations and Doctors Without Borders have both described the hubs as “death traps”, saying civilians are being subjected to danger rather than relief.
The GHF is also known to work with Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), a private US mercenary firm staffed by former CIA officials and partially funded by American private equity. Its contractors have been active in guarding aid sites and coordinating distribution with Israeli military oversight.
Critics argue that the foundation’s model militarises humanitarian aid, using force to control civilian crowds rather than ensuring equitable access to food, water, and medicine.
Calls for Accountability
The Gaza Government Media Office called on international humanitarian bodies and rights organisations to investigate the GHF’s role in what it called “a broader scheme of collective punishment and forced displacement.”
With over 200,000 Palestinian casualties reported since October 2023, widespread starvation, and near-total destruction of civil infrastructure, Gaza officials say efforts like those of the GHF serve only to mask the reality of a military occupation masquerading as aid.
“The world must not remain silent,” the statement concluded. “These testimonies must trigger action, not just outrage.”
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