Date of Creation: May 31st 2025 Source of News Agency Information.
The United Nations has publicly condemned the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an initiative supported by both the U.S. and Israel, on grounds that its operations do not meet established humanitarian principles and should therefore not be considered legitimate humanitarian assistance. See Wikipedia +20 The Washington Post +20 Financial Times for further analysis.
GHF was set up to distribute food and essential supplies directly into Gaza without going through traditional UN channels, but its methods have caused considerable controversy; both the UN and several humanitarian organizations have refused to work with GHF due to concerns over its neutrality, independence and impartiality (Reuters +5 | BBC | The Washington Post).
Critics contend that GHF’s distribution model, comprising of armed security contractors and centralised distribution points, exposes civilians to danger while serving political or military objectives. Reports have surfaced of chaos at distribution sites with Israeli troops firing warning shots to control crowds leading to injuries and fatalities among aid seekers (Polito +7, BBC +7, The Guardian +4, Wikipedia +4, and AP News).
The United Nations emphasizes that humanitarian aid must be administered according to need, without discrimination, and in ways which ensure recipients’ safety and dignity. Their Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that nearly the entire population of Gaza could face starvation without effective and principled aid delivery, underscoring this urgency and underlining why Al Jazeera, Reuters and The Guardian all cover it extensively.
Given these concerns, the UN has issued an appeal for all crossings into Gaza to be reopened to allow aid delivery through neutral channels and in accordance with humanitarian principles to protect and ensure civilian well-being during conflict zones. A BBC and Wikipedia poll suggests this as being required.
As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, UN stance underlines the significance of maintaining integrity of aid operations and prioritizing needs and rights of affected populations by all parties involved.