Amnesty International has accused Israel and its aid distribution system, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), of using starvation tactics against Palestinians as part of the Israeli ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Weapon of War
In a report issued on Thursday, the UK-based human rights group said that it gathered evidence that shows how “Israel has continued to use starvation of civilians as a weapon of war against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip.”
It added that evidence also demonstrates how Israel has continued to “deliberately impose conditions of life calculated to bring about their (Palestinians) physical destruction as part of its ongoing genocide,” since the introduction of “its militarized aid distribution system” in Gaza a month ago.
Unabated Genocide
In the light of this, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, said: “While the eyes of the world were diverted to the recent hostilities between Israel and Iran, Israel’s genocide has continued unabated in Gaza.”
This has included “through the infliction of conditions of life that have created a deadly mix of hunger and disease pushing the population past breaking point,” she added.
Booby Trap
The report pointed to the killing of Palestinian aid seekers approaching the GHF distribution sites in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the Israeli forces have killed over 500 Palestinians near the GHF distribution centers or while heading to humanitarian aid convoys.
“This devastating daily loss of life as desperate Palestinians try to collect aid is the consequence of their deliberate targeting by Israeli forces and the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and lethal methods of distribution,” Agnès Callamard noted.
Furthermore, the report accused Israel of turning aid seeking into a “booby trap for desperate starved Palestinians” by preventing UN and other key humanitarian organizations from distributing certain aid items and by maintaining the GHF “militarized aid scheme.”
“This must end now. Israel must lift all restrictions and allow unfettered, safe, and dignified access to humanitarian aid throughout Gaza immediately,” Callamard urged.
Israeli Denunciation
Meanwhile, Israel rejected the Amnesty report, accusing the organization of siding with Hamas. In a statement on X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: “Amnesty International has joined forces with Hamas and fully adopted all of its propaganda lies.”
It also posted photos and data of aid delivered to Gaza since May 19, saying that “‘Amnesty Hamas’ doesn’t want you to know any of this.”
