Gaza: More than 130 Palestinian aid-seekers have been killed and 1,000 others injured by Israeli army fire in the blockaded Gaza Strip over the past two weeks, according to local authorities.
According to Anadolu Agency, Gaza's government media office has released a statement accusing the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US-based aid group, of operating as an extension of the Israeli army. The media office described the organization as a "propaganda front" for the Israeli occupation, claiming it is led by American and Israeli officers and recruits, with direct US funding and operational coordination with the Israeli military.
The statement further alleges that the GHF is complicit in organized crimes targeting civilians under the guise of providing aid. It was reported that over 130 Palestinians were killed at Israeli checkpoints while attempting to reach aid distribution sites, with nearly 1,000 civilians injured. Additionally, nine Palestinians remain missing after allegedly being lured to military-controlled areas by the organization.
The media office criticized the GHF for not adhering to international standards of humanitarian work, including neutrality and non-alignment, arguing that its operations support military objectives rather than humanitarian relief. The office labeled the organization as part of "genocidal tools" complicit in crimes against the civilian population.
Israel has implemented a plan to establish four aid distribution points in southern and central Gaza, aiming to evacuate Palestinians from the north to the south. However, Israel's aid distribution mechanism has faced opposition from the international community and the UN, as it seeks to bypass existing UN channels.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the closure of all border crossings since March 2, preventing the entry of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and fuel for Gaza's 2.4 million residents. The Israeli army has continued its offensive against Gaza since October 2023, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire and resulting in the deaths of nearly 55,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children.
In a significant development last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.