In a stark reflection of the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the U.S.-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced a full suspension of aid distribution on Wednesday. The decision comes after a string of deadly incidents near its distribution hubs in Rafah, where at least 61 Palestinians have been killed over the past three days — including 27 on Tuesday alone, many of them women and children.
GHF’s temporary halt, seen as both a protest and a safety precaution, aims to pressure Israeli authorities into taking urgent steps to safeguard civilians. In a statement, the foundation called on the Israeli military to better manage pedestrian flow, issue clearer guidance for civilians, and improve tactical coordination to reduce risks at aid access points.
“Ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid remains our highest priority,” said a GHF spokesperson, underscoring the foundation’s growing concerns about operating in what it now calls an unacceptably volatile environment.
Israeli military officials, however, issued a public warning ahead of the planned suspension, labeling the areas around GHF sites as “combat zones” and urging civilians to stay away. On Tuesday, the military admitted to opening fire on a crowd it said posed a threat near one of the food distribution centers. The International Committee of the Red Cross later confirmed 27 fatalities and dozens more injured. GHF clarified that the tragic incident occurred “well beyond” its official distribution perimeter.
Eyewitnesses on the ground described scenes of desperation and disarray, with no formal oversight or ID verification at the aid handover points. “It was chaos,” said one Rafah resident. “People were fighting just to get a bag of rice.”
The GHF program, launched less than two weeks ago, was designed to bypass traditional UN-led aid efforts — which Israel claims are compromised by Hamas — and instead deliver assistance through secure distribution hubs overseen by U.S. contractors and monitored by Israeli forces. But the model has faced international criticism for its lack of neutrality and the inherent dangers it poses to civilians navigating militarized zones for aid.
Leadership challenges have only added to the turmoil. Jake Wood, the group’s founding director, recently stepped down, citing irreconcilable tensions between humanitarian ethics and operational realities. His replacement, Johnnie Moore — an evangelical Christian leader with close ties to U.S. conservative circles — now faces mounting pressure to justify the foundation’s presence in a conflict zone where neutrality is increasingly questioned.
International bodies, including the UN, have condemned both the recent killings and the broader structure of the GHF initiative, warning that Gaza is on the brink of famine and that attacks on aid-seeking civilians could constitute war crimes under international law.
With the UN Security Council poised to vote on a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, The Gulf Talk notes that global eyes are now fixed on Washington. The U.S. not only sponsors GHF but holds veto power at the Council — raising critical questions about its role and responsibility in a worsening humanitarian disaster.
As GHF operations remain suspended and trust in coordinated aid efforts deteriorates, the crisis continues to deepen — not just for Gaza’s besieged civilians, but for the credibility of international relief efforts amid war.
