Amnesty International Australia expresses grave concern and asserts the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s (GHF) operations illegitimate and inhumane under international law.
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols clearly mandate that aid distribution must adhere to the principles of impartiality, neutrality, humanity, and independence. To meet these standards, only experienced humanitarian organisations should be coordinating the urgent relief required by nearly two million Palestinians in Gaza, who are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity due to the weaponisation of starvation.
“Aid must never be politicised or weaponised. Its delivery must be adequate, impartial, and responsive to the scale of devastation and starvation facing the Palestinian people.”
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Spokesperson
“Aid must never be politicised or weaponised. Its delivery must be adequate, impartial, and responsive to the scale of devastation and starvation facing the Palestinian people. Humanitarian organisations stand ready to respond and food remains blocked at the border that must immediately be allowed in and at scale,” Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Spokesperson said.
The United Nations and global aid organisations have universally condemned the GHF for undermining established aid distribution networks and violating core international humanitarian principles. Alarmingly, the scheme puts military personnel in charge of aid delivery, an approach fundamentally at odds with international humanitarian standards.
Disturbing early reports indicate that Israeli forces responded with deadly violence to Palestinians attempting to access GHF-distributed aid. Witnesses report that forces stationed near distribution points opened live fire on starving civilians who approached in the hope of receiving essential supplies.
The operation descended into chaos, with thousands of men, women, and children struggling to obtain food. According to the Gaza Media Office, at least three Palestinians were killed.
“As the occupying power, Israel has obligations under international law to ensure the unhindered entry of food, water, medical supplies and aid. Its failure to do so may amount to serious breaches of international law and constitute criminal responsibility.
This blockade has only partially lifted, leaving the delivery of food and aid as grossly insufficient given the unprecedented scale of suffering we are witnessing,” says Mr. Duar.
This tragic development occurs against the backdrop of a staggering death toll in Gaza, which has now surpassed 54,000. The World Health Organisation reports the deaths of 57 children due to malnutrition, and global leaders are escalating their condemnation of the looming, man-made famine in the region.
“The operations of the GHF are a complete and utter failure with Palestinians paying the ultimate price.
“In recent days, we’ve witnessed growing international condemnation of Israel’s deliberate creation of famine conditions in Gaza, including Prime Minister Albanese’s clear and unequivocal statement calling Israel’s blockade of aid and essential supplies ‘outrageous and completely unacceptable’.
“The Knesset’s ban of UNRWA represents the criminalisation of aid. It has severed a critical lifeline to almost two million Palestinian people in Gaza. There is no alternative to UNRWA, and the international community must act urgently to see the full restoration and resumption of its essential services.
“Israel must immediately cease all inhumane and politically motivated methods of aid delivery and respond to mounting global pressure by allowing full, unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, a population that has already endured months of genocide,”
Mohamed Duar
“Israel must immediately cease all inhumane and politically motivated methods of aid delivery and respond to mounting global pressure by allowing full, unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, a population that has already endured months of genocide,” says Mr. Duar.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our crisis response campaign.
