Middle East Head of GHF Foundation wants to continue operations in the Gaza Strip
The controversial private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) wants to continue its aid distribution work in the Gaza Strip despite criticism. "We are not closing down. We have a job to do," explained GHF President Johnnie Moore on Wednesday.
03.07.2025, 05:33
SDA
"Providing free food to the people of Gaza every day is very simple," he added to the media in Brussels. According to him, the GHF has already distributed more than one million boxes of food since it began its work at the end of May.
Chaos and violence continue to occur at the Foundation's distribution centers. Several aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, had therefore called for the GHF to cease its work.
The authorities in the Gaza Strip, which are controlled by the radical Islamic group Hamas, accuse the Israeli army of shooting at civilians queuing for aid supplies. According to Hamas, numerous people have been killed in the incidents.
Moore rejected the accusations. "We have not had any violent incidents at our distribution centers" or in their immediate vicinity, he explained.
Moore emphasized that the GHF will continue its work even if there is a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. "Unless we are forced to, we have no intention of abandoning these people," he said.
UN refuses to cooperate
The GHF is supported by the USA and Israel. Israel imposed a blockade on aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip at the beginning of March. The blockade was only partially lifted again at the end of May. The GHF then began its work and opened four distribution centers in the south and center of the Palestinian territory.
The UN and major aid organizations refuse to cooperate with the foundation. They accuse it of aligning itself with the plans of the Israeli army and thus violating fundamental humanitarian principles.
Geneva branch dissolved
The non-operational subsidiary of the GHF registered in Geneva will be dissolved. This was announced by the Swiss Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce.
This decision was taken because the GHF Foundation had failed to comply with various legal obligations, the responsible Federal Department of Home Affairs informed the Keystone-SDA news agency on Wednesday. The head of the department, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, had no influence on this process or the decision.
