Amnesty International Reports on Aid Distribution and Starvation in Gaza

Amnesty International Report on Gaza Aid Distribution

Amnesty International released a report on Thursday addressing the Israeli- and U.S.-backed system for distributing aid in Gaza. The report states that the system uses starvation tactics against Palestinians during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The human rights group criticized Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has received support from the U.S. and Israel to manage aid distribution in Gaza, replacing a previous network led by the United Nations.

Israel’s foreign ministry responded to the report, disputing its findings and characterizing Amnesty’s position as aligned with Hamas.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 500 Palestinians have been killed at or near GHF distribution centers in the past month. These centers are guarded by private security contractors and are located near Israeli military positions. Palestinian officials and witnesses have accused Israeli forces of firing at crowds near these sites.

Amnesty’s report asserts that Israel has created dangerous conditions for Palestinians seeking aid through GHF’s distribution hubs. The report describes a combination of hunger and disease affecting the population.

"This devastating daily loss of life as desperate Palestinians try to collect aid is the consequence of their deliberate targeting by Israeli forces and the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and lethal methods of distribution," said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary general.

Israel’s Response

The Israeli army states it has used warning shots to control crowds and only fires at individuals it considers suspicious.

The Foreign Ministry and COGAT, the Israeli defense body overseeing aid coordination, report that Israel has facilitated the entry of over 3,000 aid trucks into Gaza since May 19. GHF has delivered food boxes equivalent to 56 million meals.

Humanitarian organizations indicate that this amount of aid does not meet the needs in Gaza. GHF did not provide immediate comment.

The World Food Programme reports that, despite the new aid initiative, food consumption in Gaza reached a critical low last month, with food diversity at its lowest since the conflict began.

"The continued closure of crossings, intensified violence since March, soaring food prices, and extremely limited humanitarian and commercial supplies have severely restricted access to even basic food items," the WFP stated in a June report.

GHF Hubs and Humanitarian Concerns

Amnesty’s report follows a statement from more than 165 international charities and non-governmental organizations calling for an end to the GHF initiative. These groups argue that the mechanism allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles, and is ineffective.

GHF is a relatively new initiative, led by an evangelical leader with political connections. Last month, the U.S. government pledged $30 million to support GHF operations. Other funding sources for GHF have not been disclosed.

GHF began distributing aid on May 26, following a nearly three-month Israeli blockade that significantly affected Gaza’s population of over 2 million.

Palestinian witnesses have reported chaotic scenes at distribution sites. Two contractors involved in the operation stated that colleagues used live ammunition and stun grenades toward crowds. Palestinians often travel long distances to reach these sites.

In a recent statement, GHF rejected criticism of its operations and stated it has delivered more than 52 million meals to Palestinians in Gaza.

"Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza," GHF stated.

GHF has requested that Israel’s military investigate the allegations from Gaza’s Health Ministry. Last month, GHF reported no violence in or around its centers and stated that its personnel have not opened fire.

Israel has supported the alternative aid plan, citing concerns that Hamas diverts aid. The United Nations and aid organizations deny significant diversion of aid.

Allegations of Genocide

Amnesty International previously accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza during the conflict with Hamas, citing attacks, destruction of infrastructure, and prevention of aid delivery.

Israel has rejected these allegations, describing them as unfounded and is contesting related cases at the International Court of Justice. Israel has also rejected accusations from the International Criminal Court regarding alleged war crimes committed by Israeli officials in Gaza.