Hamas allegedly responsible for the deaths of 5 aid workers employed by a U.S.-supported organization in Gaza.
Pump Up the Volume: A Chilling Attack on Gaza Humanitarian Aid
In a shocking escalation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) accused Hamas of cold-bloodedly killing at least five of its employees on Wednesday, with an additional 40 Palestinians getting killed near GHF's aid sites in the Gaza Strip.
The GHF, embroiled in controversy and violence, issued a statement, revealing that their staff were on a bus heading to a distribution center west of Khan Younis when it was ruthlessly ambushed by Hamas at around 10 p.m. local time, resulting in at least five fatalities, several injuries, and fears of missing team members being held captive.
"Plagued by this brutal attack, we remain committed to our mission of providing essential aid to the people of Gaza," the statement read.
As of yet, Hamas has not responded to the accusations, and NBC News couldn't independently verify the claims. It's important to note that in the last few days, the GHF has reported threats from Hamas.
The GHF started distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza following Israel's decision to ease its three-month total blockade on supplies into the enclave, including food, medicine, and other vital items, after an international outcry and warnings of famine from United Nations food experts[1].
Due to the blockade loosening, the GHF is one of the few organizations authorized to distribute aid - partly because it's supported by Israel and the U.S., raising questions about its independence.
The spotlight on the GHF has intensified in the past week as dozens of Palestinians were killed in and around its multiple aid sites in Gaza, located in military zones and off-limits to independent media[2].
Dr. Munir al-Barsh, director-general of the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, reported that on Wednesday alone, 39 Palestinians were shot and killed while seeking aid from the GHF. He stated, "Aid distribution sites have become death traps in the Gaza Strip."
As of Thursday, over 200 Palestinians have died, and nearly 1,500 have been injured in shootings near GHF sites[2]. Perhaps it's worth mentioning that while the GHF claims there has been no violence in and around the distribution points, the Israeli military has previously acknowledged firing warning shots[3].
On a more positive note, the U.N. is continuing to push for access to critical supplies of fuel and the coordination of humanitarian movement inside the enclave, as people in Gaza are still being killed and injured while trying to access food[4].
"If the population is inadequately supplied with the essentials for their survival, Israel must agree to humanitarian relief and facilitate it by all means at its disposal," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the U.N. secretary-general, said at a news briefing[4].
Additionally, the U.N. agency in Gaza, UNRWA, renewed its criticism of the GHF, stating that the aid distribution model may be putting lives at risk and serving as a distraction from ongoing atrocities[5].
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas carrying out a terrorist attack on southern Israel, has resulted in over 55,000 Palestinian fatalities, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry[6].
The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote on Thursday on a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, and the opening of all Israeli border crossings for aid delivery[6]. Tensions between Israel and Iran are also escalating, with Israel considering military action, while Trump is in advanced discussions with Tehran on a deal to curtail its nuclear program[7].
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Sources:
1: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-truce.html
2: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/9/gaza-strip-escalating-violence-around-israeli-donated-aid-sites
3: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-aid-idUSKBN2DK2G4
4: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/6/10/israel-rejects-half-of-un-request-to-allow-aid-into-gaza
5: https://www.macobserver.com/news/unrwa-criticizes-gaza-humanitarian-foundation-aid-distribution-model/
6: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-war-2023-live-updates-2023-10-10/
7: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/israel-mulls-military-strike-iran-and-received-secret-nuclear-facility-sits-n2678195
- The GHF's financial aid for Gaza has been affected by the ongoing violence and threats, raising questions about the stability of capital delivery in war-and-conflicts-prone regions.
- The politics surrounding the GHF's aid distribution have become a focal point in the crime-and-justice discourse, with allegations of human rights violations and ongoing violence.
- As the United Nations pushes for more funding for critical supplies and a ceasefire in Gaza, the general news landscape is filled with stories of conflict, humanitarian crisis, and political tension.
