Tuesday’s reported killing of at least one Palestinian and wounding of nearly 50 people in Rafah, after the Israeli military opened fire on crowds of people who rushed to an aid distribution point of the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), is a vivid reminder that its set-up is not humanitarian in nature, but a clear attempt at militarising and further politicising of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The creation of GHF has coincided with the Israeli Government’s announcement to expand its military operations in Gaza, permanently seize territory, and install a new “authorisation mechanism” for the distribution of aid.
Such approach clearly contravenes International Humanitarian Law, confining aid to southern Gaza, that instrumentalise further unlawful forced displacement of civilians that are in desperate need of assistance, leading to their permanent displacement. This plan was firmly rejected by the UN and the entire humanitarian system, making it clear that this is also a political attempt to dismantle a well established humanitarian response system. Nothing has changed in the humanitarian system. Humanitarian organisations must be fully committed to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as global norms developed from the work of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and recognised in UNGA Resolution 46/182.
The traditional humanitarian system for Gaza has been immensely challenged, not due to humanitarian capacities or availability of humanitarian aid, but due to a blockade imposed by Israel’s siege. There is no need to create another system that has no resemblance to humanitarian organisations. Instead, there is a need to re-establish the rule of international law and multilateralism, and reverse the devastating trend from over nineteen months, where humanitarian actors have faced belligerent and coordinated attacks by Israel on their mandates, legitimacy, and even their staff, with more than 400 aid workers killed, the highest in any conflict on record.
Unimpeded humanitarian access into Gaza must be urgently re-established. Humanitarian organisations must be allowed to provide aid to thousands of Gazans facing famine, disease outbreaks, and other disasters. States must stop supporting military assault by Israel.