AMAN statement regarding the serious violations associated with the work of the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" in the Gaza Strip

The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) is monitoring the consequences of the establishment of what is known as the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation," created by the United States in collaboration with the Israeli occupation authorities. This has led to daily executions of people gathering for aid, caused chaos in the distribution of aid and horrific violations against Palestinian civilians in the beleaguered Gaza Strip, which has been under harsh Israeli military siege for over 18 years and is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the modern era because of the genocidal war waged against it.

Daily deliberate and random shooting in the crowds, in tragic scenes at humiliating distribution points in the southern sector, has resulted in the deaths of more than 583 martyrs and around 4,200 injured so far. This is because of the Israeli military's ruthless treatment of civilians who gathered to receive aid, in addition to subjecting them to humiliating security procedures that crush their dignity as well as denying them the right to relief.

We at AMAN strongly believe that this institution is in blatant and clear violation of international humanitarian doctrines; it also infringes upon and undermines the role of specialized UN agencies, foremost among them is the UNRWA and the World Food Program. Moreover, it politicizes aid, turning it into a tool of military supposed security and political pressure without any actual accountability or oversight for those running this organization.

Accordingly, we demand the following:

• Immediately halting the operations of the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" in its current form, and the return to the provision of humanitarian aid through the relevant UN agencies, working in accordance with the principles of transparency, integrity and justice.
• Launching an independent and transparent international investigation into all incidents related to the aid distribution operations managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and holding accountable all those involved in the violations that resulted in the loss of civilian lives.
• Bringing in serious international pressure to deliver humanitarian aid adequately and regularly to all areas of the Gaza Strip, especially in the north, without political motives or supposed security conditions of the Israeli military.
• Ensuring the protection of Palestinian civilians during distribution operations, and providing safe and fair means to access aid, away from the ostensible Israeli military security measures.

Israel’s continuous use of food deprivation as a weapon against the Palestinian people, and denying them the right to live in dignity, is a crime that will not be forgotten. The international community must bear its legal and moral responsibility for these violations.