After facing harsh criticism from the UN, the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is once again under fire from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), even though they provided 155 million meals to people in Gaza on Saturday.
The French medical organization known by its acronym MSF has taken out ads that criticize the GHF. Ads from August show Facebook posts targeting the foundation, one of which states, “This is not aid. It’s an organized murder,” while another claims, “In 54 years at MSF, I rarely see such systematic violence.”
These assertions are based on an article from MSF published on August 6, where General Raquel Ayora outlines testimonies from patients injured at GHF distribution sites. Ayora describes horrific accounts—children allegedly shot while reaching for food, and chaos during aid distribution.
In response, GHF’s spokesman, Chapinfay, called the MSF’s allegations “false and dishonorable,” claiming they contribute to a misinformation campaign orchestrated by the Hamas-linked Gaza Health Ministry.
Chapinfay maintained, “No civilians have been shot on any of our distribution sites.” He also accused Nasser Hospital of issuing misleading reports on civilian casualties based on hearsay. “We have never witnessed any incidents near our site,” he added.
When asked whether MSF staff personally saw injuries or deaths at GHF, a spokesperson replied that MSF had documented the violence affecting the GHF site in Gaza. However, MSF did not disclose how much they spent on advertisements targeting GHF or comment on whether Hamas influenced the care for Israeli hostages.
A representative from MSF stated that humanitarian organizations in Gaza and the West Bank have been up against “unfounded smear campaigns” for over 22 months.
Meanwhile, reports from the UN indicate that deaths in areas near GHF sites had increased significantly, with 259 deaths recorded between July 21 and August 18 alone. By mid-August, the death toll around aid sites had risen sharply, highlighting a troubling backdrop as both GHF and MSF dispute the narratives.
Amid these tensions, GHF claimed to have provided support to MSF when requested for help in protecting medical aid. On August 7, GHF posted on social media about delivering a palette of MSF aid, which MSF later confirmed was requested from GHF.
Interestingly, following a Hamas attack that claimed eight lives, GHF staff faced challenges when seeking care for injured colleagues at Nasser Hospital. Reports reveal that hospital staff allegedly neglected patients and one GHF employee was reportedly harmed.
As the humanitarian situation remains dire, GHF’s statement led to an allegation that several of their staff members died due to lack of adequate medical attention at Nasser Hospital. MSF’s doctors were on duty but claimed ignorance of the circumstances.
In response to an Israeli bombing on Nasser Hospital, MSF emphasized that they have been providing critical services there since before the conflict worsened but have faced significant security challenges, including claims that Hamas has operated from within the hospital.
Ultimately, MSF also stated that they see no credible evidence of medical care being denied by local health authorities, further complicating an already convoluted situation. In an effort to bolster their assistance, GHF announced a new healthcare initiative aimed at supporting Gazans, which includes various forms of medical treatment.
