UN says at least 875 Palestinian killed near Gaza aid sites
Palestinians gather at an aid distribution point set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on 25 June 2025
Middle East Eye reports on 15 July 2025:
The United Nations human rights office says it has documented at least 875 Palestinians killed over the past six weeks near aid delivery points across Gaza, most of them in areas tied to the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN rights office, told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that 674 deaths occurred near GHF distribution sites. Another 201 people were killed along aid convoy routes operated by the UN and other agencies, according to the official.
“The data we have is based on our own information gathering through various reliable sources, including medical, human rights and humanitarian organisations,” Al-Kheetan said. The GHF has rejected the findings and accused the UN of spreading misinformation—an allegation the UN firmly denies.
The UN has called the GHF’s aid model as “inherently unsafe” and in breach of impartial humanitarian principles.
The foundation, which began operations in late May following an 11-week Israeli blockade, uses private US mercenaries for delivery. It by passes the UN-led aid system, which Israel claims has been infiltrated by Hamas – an accusation that is not supported by independently verified evidence.
Last week, CNN reported that the main US government agency that distributes foreign aid raised “critical concerns” about a GHF just days before the Trump administration announced $30m in funding for the organisation. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) in June wrote a 14-page confidential internal assessment criticising a request for funding submitted by the controversial GHF.
GHF was seeking $30m of its $100m operating costs from the State Department. According to the assessment, which was obtained by CNN, at least nine elements normally required to obtain government funding were not included in the application, such as insufficient planning information ensuring Palestinians would actually receive aid.
One criticism was that the overall plan lacked “basic details” regarding a scheme to give out powdered baby formula in a Gaza area where clean drinking water is not available.
“I do not concur with moving forward with GHF given operational and reputational risks and lack of oversight,” a USAID official said, concluding it would not be safe to move forward with the GHF organisation.
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