Ex-Aid Worker Alleges Colleagues Fired on Hungry Palestinians at Controversial Gaza Operation

A former security contractor working at Gaza's contentious new aid distribution sites, backed by Israel and the U.S., has shared distressing accounts with the BBC of his colleagues opening fire on unarmed Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) flatly denies the allegations.

The GHF, which began operations in Gaza at the end of May, has been under heavy criticism for forcing thousands of people to traverse active combat zones to reach a limited number of aid distribution sites. This comes after an 11-week total blockade of Gaza by Israel, during which no food was allowed into the territory.

One such incident, as described by the former worker, involved a guard firing a machine gun at a group of Palestinians moving too slowly away from the site. The GHF has stated that no civilians were ever fired upon at their distribution sites.

However, the United Nations and local doctors claim that more than 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to retrieve food aid from the GHF sites since the organization's inception. Israel maintains that the new distribution system aims to prevent aid from reaching Hamas.

The former worker detailed another incident at a GHF site, where he asserted that guards fired upon a group of Palestinians. He claimed that another contractor on the scene fired 15 to 20 shots with repetitive weapons, causing a Palestinian man to fall motionless to the ground. His colleagues, according to the worker, laughed about the incident.

The GHF dismissed the former worker's claims, labeling him a "disgruntled former contractor" who they had terminated for misconduct, a claim he denies. The worker presented payslips showing continued payment for two weeks following his departure from the post.

The man, who had worked at all four of the GHF distribution sites, described a culture of impunity with few rules or regulations. He claimed that contractors were given no clear rules of engagement or standard operating procedures, and were instructed to "shoot to kill and ask questions later."

The former worker also accused the GHF of creating a callous environment, with team leaders referring to Palestinians as "zombie hordes." He further alleged that Palestinians were being harmed in various ways at the GHF sites, such as being hit by debris from stun grenades, sprayed with mace, or being pushed into razor wire.

More than 170 charities and NGOs, including Oxfam and Save the Children, have called for the GHF to be shut down, claiming that Israeli forces and armed groups "routinely" open fire on Palestinians seeking aid. Israel denies intentionally shooting at aid recipients, asserting that the GHF's system bypasses Hamas interference and provides direct assistance to those in need.

The GHF claims that it has delivered over 52 million meals in five weeks, while other organizations "stand by helplessly as their aid is looted." The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.

Since then, at least 57,130 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Additional reporting by Gidi Kleiman and Samantha Granville
GHF boss defends Gaza aid operation after hundreds of Palestinians killed near sites
Israel-Gaza war
Palestinian territories