Response to Allegations in Gaza
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) addressed concerns on Thursday regarding a report from the Associated Press (AP) that accused security contractors of endangering Palestinian civilians and employing live ammunition in Gaza.
The AP piece seemingly avoided directly stating that Palestinian casualties occurred, but the implications were clear—claims they termed “fake news” have been echoed by Hamas and other sources.
According to an AP report:
Video and accounts obtained by the Associated Press indicated that aid distribution sites in Gaza were using live ammunition and stun grenades to control crowds of Palestinians competing for food.
Two U.S. contractors, speaking anonymously, expressed concern over the reckless practices they witnessed while exposing their employer’s operations. They labeled the security personnel as often unqualified, heavily armed, and operating without accountability.
During the interviews, they recounted instances where stun grenades and pepper spray were used against Palestinians. One contractor described bullets being fired indiscriminately—sometimes upwards, towards the ground, or even at individuals in the crowd, leading to panic.
The GHF released a statement in response on Thursday:
The GHF initiated an investigation as soon as the AP brought these allegations to light. Based on timestamped video and witness statements, they concluded that the claims in the AP story were false. No civilians were harmed at the GHF distribution site. The gunfire heard in the footage has been traced to IDF [Israel Defense Forces] personnel adjacent to the GHF site, not directed at individuals, and no injuries occurred.
It’s particularly frustrating that the AP didn’t share the complete video with us before publishing, given the seriousness of the allegations. If they trusted their reporting, they should have allowed us to review it for appropriate action.
The main source of this story is a disgruntled contractor who had been terminated for fraud before the article’s release. This context, along with the AP’s refusal to communicate with us beforehand, raises doubts about the report’s credibility. Claims about our aid efforts increasingly align with narratives from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health. In light of this, we are pursuing legal steps.
We prioritize the safety and security of our operations. In instances where our standards weren’t met, we took action. Contractors seen shouting in the video have been removed from their roles. Our focus remains on delivering food to the people of Gaza safely and without disruption caused by misinformation. That mission is too important to jeopardize.
During a briefing on Thursday, Israeli government spokesman David Mensah was asked about allegations implicating IDF soldiers and affirmed that they were unfounded.
Claims regarding Palestinian fatalities, driven by Hamas and then reported by mainstream media, have often faced retractions.
Meanwhile, Hamas has been recorded attacking Palestinians seeking assistance, asserting that control over aid will revert to the United Nations under a ceasefire, though there are concerns over how this could interact with associations to terrorist groups.
