Hamas warns Palestinians against Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
4/7/2025 6:21
The Hamas-run interior
ministry in Gaza on Thursday warned residents of the coastal
enclave not to assist the U.S.-and Israeli-backed Gaza
Humanitarian Foundation, saying deadly incidents near its food
distribution sites endangered hungry Gazans.
"It is strictly forbidden to deal with, work for, or provide
any form of assistance or cover to the American organization
(GHF) or its local or foreign agents," an interior ministry
statement said.
"Legal action will be taken against anyone proven to be
involved in cooperation with this organization, including the
imposition of the maximum penalties stipulated in the applicable
national laws," it added, without giving further details.
The GHF said in a statement in response that it had
delivered million of meals "safely and without interference."
"This statement from the Hamas-controlled Interior
Ministry confirms what we've known all along: Hamas is losing
control," the GHF said.
The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end
of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries which the United
Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral.
Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May
19, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been
killed while seeking handouts of aid.
A senior U.N. official said on Sunday that the majority of
people killed were trying to reach aid distribution sites of the
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Israel's military acknowledged on Monday that Palestinian
civilians had been harmed near the distribution centres and that
its forces had been issued with new instructions following what
it called "lessons learned."
Israel has said its forces operate near the centres in order
to prevent the aid from falling into the hands of militants,
which Hamas denies.
More than 170 international humanitarian groups signed a
letter this week calling on governments to press Israel to end
use of the GHF to deliver aid and return to letting in aid
mainly through U.N.-run channels.
The GHF has said it has delivered more than 52 million meals
to hungry Palestinians in five weeks, while other humanitarian
groups had "nearly all of their aid looted."
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