The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced Saturday that it was forced to close its aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip following direct threats from the Hamas terror group. The disruption marked another setback for the newly established aid group, which has faced repeated obstacles in delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the war-ravaged enclave.
In a statement, GHF cited threats directed specifically at its drivers and local Palestinian staff operating the distribution hubs. It was the fourth such disruption in the past week and the second complete shutdown of its aid centers. While earlier stoppages were linked to overcrowding and mass casualty incidents — reportedly resulting from Israeli military activity — Saturday’s closures were the first directly attributed to Hamas intimidation.
“Hamas is the reason hundreds of thousands of hungry Gazans were not fed today,” GHF said. “These threats made it impossible to proceed without putting innocent lives at risk.”
The organization accused Hamas of pressuring it to return to UN-backed aid distribution mechanisms, which the group alleges were exploited by Hamas to siphon off supplies meant for civilians. GHF claimed Hamas is intent on regaining control over aid distribution through manipulation and coercion.
Despite the setbacks, GHF reaffirmed its commitment to its mission and said it was adapting operations to ensure aid reaches those in need. “These threats will not deter the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” the organization said. “We are working to overcome these challenges and resume distribution as soon as it is safe to do so.”
GHF has been operating three aid hubs in southern Gaza since launching late last month, but only two have been intermittently functional due to ongoing instability.
The group has faced scrutiny from other humanitarian organizations and international bodies, including the UN, which argue that GHF’s operations do not sufficiently meet the needs of Gaza’s population. Critics also say the centers have exposed civilians to danger, with several deadly incidents occurring in recent days.
The first mass casualty event took place last Sunday at GHF’s Rafah compound — the only operational center that day. Hamas-controlled health authorities reported 31 killed and nearly 200 injured in what was described as pre-dawn shooting near the facility. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied responsibility for the deaths. Additional incidents occurred Monday and Tuesday, reportedly leaving dozens more dead, though none of the casualty figures could be independently verified.
Israel and the United States have backed GHF as a potential replacement for the longstanding UN aid network, accusing Hamas of diverting international aid funneled through the UN — claims that UN agencies deny. While the UN continues limited aid distribution in Gaza, it has complained of mounting logistical challenges due to IDF-imposed restrictions and security threats on the roads designated for humanitarian use.
GHF’s emergence coincides with a renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza, launched nearly 20 months after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, cross-border attack on southern Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken. Over 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry claims that more than 54,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead in the ongoing conflict. These figures remain unverified and do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas combatants.
Israel maintains that it seeks to minimize civilian casualties and holds Hamas responsible for endangering non-combatants by embedding fighters and infrastructure in homes, schools, hospitals, and mosques. The Israeli military death toll in Gaza and surrounding border areas has reached 429 since the beginning of ground operations.