Amnesty accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza through starvation tactics
text_fields
Cairo: Amnesty International has accused Israel and a controversial Israeli- and US-backed aid distribution system in Gaza of using starvation tactics against Palestinians to continue committing genocide amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The UK-based human rights organization released a report on Thursday condemning both Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has been supported by the US and Israel to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a United Nations-led network.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 500 Palestinians have been killed at or near GHF distribution centres in the past month. These centres, guarded by private security contractors and situated close to Israeli military positions, have reportedly become sites of violence. Palestinian officials and eyewitnesses have accused Israeli forces of opening fire on crowds near these locations. Amnesty’s report states that Israel has “turned aid-seeking into a booby trap for desperate starved Palestinians” through the militarized hubs operated by GHF. The conditions, it says, have created “a deadly mix of hunger and disease pushing the population past breaking point.” Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary general, described the daily loss of life at aid sites as “the consequence of their deliberate targeting by Israeli forces and the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and lethal methods of distribution.”
Israel has strongly denied these accusations. The Israeli Foreign Minister criticized the Amnesty report, accusing the organization of “joining forces with Hamas and fully adopting all of its propaganda lies.” The Israeli military stated that warning shots have been fired to control crowds and that live fire is used only against individuals deemed suspicious. Israeli authorities, including the Foreign Ministry and COGAT—the body responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza—have said that over 3,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza since May 19, with GHF delivering food equivalent to 56 million meals.
Humanitarian organizations, however, warn that this aid is insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs in Gaza. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported in June that food consumption in Gaza had reached a critical low, with food diversity hitting its worst level since the conflict began. The WFP attributed this crisis to the continued closure of crossings, intensified violence since March, soaring food prices, and severely limited humanitarian and commercial supplies.
Amnesty’s report also highlights the proximity of GHF distribution hubs to Israeli military positions, raising concerns about the safety and impartiality of aid delivery. Earlier this week, over 165 major international charities and NGOs called for an immediate end to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operations, accusing the initiative of enabling Israel to use food as a weapon, violating humanitarian principles, and proving ineffective.
The GHF has faced increasing scrutiny. It is a secretive initiative led by an evangelical figure closely allied with former US President Donald Trump. The US government recently pledged USD 30 million to support the group, marking the first known American donation, while other funding sources remain unclear. The foundation began distributing aid on May 26, following nearly three months of an Israeli blockade that pushed Gaza’s population of more than two million to the brink of famine.
Palestinian witnesses have described chaotic scenes around the GHF distribution sites. Two contractors involved in the operation told The Associated Press that colleagues fired live ammunition and stun grenades toward crowds. Palestinians often have to travel long distances to reach these centres. GHF rejected criticisms in a statement on Tuesday, claiming it has delivered more than 52 million meals. The organization invited other humanitarian groups to join its efforts rather than criticize from the sidelines.
GHF has called on the Israeli military to investigate allegations from Gaza’s Health Ministry, though the foundation has maintained there has been no violence within its centres and denied any use of live fire by its personnel. Israel demanded the alternative aid distribution plan, citing accusations that Hamas diverts aid supplies—a claim denied by the UN and other aid organizations.
Amnesty International has previously accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza during its war with Hamas, alleging deliberate destruction of Palestinians through deadly attacks, demolition of vital infrastructure, and obstruction of food, medicine, and aid deliveries. Israel, founded after the Holocaust, vehemently rejects genocide allegations as antisemitic “blood libel.” It is contesting such claims at the International Court of Justice and has dismissed war crimes accusations made by the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister in relation to Gaza.
With PTI inputs
