GHF Director Stands Firm Amid Criticism Over Aid Operation in Gaza

Johnnie Moore, director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has responded to mounting allegations regarding casualties linked to their aid operations, stating that the organization does not accept blame for the violence occurring near their distribution points, despite UN condemnation.

Johnnie Moore, the director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has pushed back against accusations surrounding the organization's aid distribution in Gaza, where numerous casualties have been reported near their aid sites. In a conversation with BBC World Service's Newshour, he acknowledged the tragic deaths and injuries but firmly denied the assertion that these were solely attributable to the GHF, labeling it false.

The UN has condemned the GHF's operations, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denouncing them as "inherently unsafe". Guterres criticized any initiative that channels civilians toward militarized zones while trying to secure crucial food supplies, emphasizing that seeking assistance should not come with such risks. The Hamas-run health ministry has reported that over 500 Palestinians have died and 4,000 have been injured while attempting to access aid since the GHF took command of distribution in late May.

Following the onset of GHF's aid efforts, incidents of violence have surged, with international observers expressing alarm at the increasing number of fatalities correlating with their operations, which often take place within Israeli military zones. Eyewitness accounts, including claims from medical personnel, suggest that Israeli forces have fired on crowds near GHF sites, raising further concerns. While some Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers claimed they were directed to disperse civilian crowds using lethal methods, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed these assertions as unfounded.

In response, the IDF reiterated that it does not permit deliberate shooting at civilians, asserting they have renovated protocols to improve operational safety in aid distribution areas. Moore rebuffed claims about the IDF's responsibility, stating that it is disinformation to assert that civilians arriving at GHF locations are dying or being harmed by their operations.

The limitations on international media access to Gaza, including restrictions placed on well-known outlets like the BBC, hinder comprehensive verification of events on the ground. Moore claimed that prior to the initiation of GHF's aid efforts, UN aid trucks faced rampant hijackings, a statement that the UN disputes, asserting no substantial evidence for widespread hijacking incidents.

Despite the ire surrounding its operations, the GHF has endeavored to increase aid flow into Gaza, recently announcing a goal of providing 50 million meals, which corresponds to less than one meal per person daily since the organization began its work. Nevertheless, Moore confessed that distribution has been insufficient and expressed a desire for better collaboration with established organizations like the UN.

The US has recently allocated $30 million in funding to the GHF, a notable financial commitment as conflict continues to rattle the region following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant Israeli casualties and a subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza. According to Gaza's health ministry, the ongoing violence has led to the deaths of over 56,000 individuals in the territory since the conflict escalated.