United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly criticized the U.S.-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), calling the operation “inherently unsafe” and accusing it of endangering the very civilians it claims to help. “It is killing people,” Guterres told reporters, pointing to what he called the militarization of aid and the forced displacement of vulnerable populations.
Guterres rejected calls from Israel and the U.S. for the UN to cooperate with the GHF, expressing deep concerns about the foundation’s neutrality and operational model. He said the UN’s own humanitarian efforts in Gaza were being “strangled,” while many of its workers were starving along with the people they serve.
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Since Israel lifted its 11-week blockade on May 19, UN data suggests over 400 Palestinians have died while seeking food from aid distributions—most of them reportedly near GHF sites. Guterres emphasized that “the search for food must never be a death sentence,” renewing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza to allow for safe and effective humanitarian operations.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused the UN of siding with Hamas by opposing the GHF, while GHF representatives denied any fatalities linked to their distribution points. They defended their work, highlighting the delivery of over 48 million meals since launching operations in Gaza on May 26.
The GHF, which relies on private U.S. security and logistics firms, has received $30 million in U.S. government support, with Washington urging other nations to follow suit. However, Guterres maintains that only a coordinated, politically neutral, and demilitarized aid framework can ensure the safety and dignity of Palestinian civilians.
