Nearly 170 non -governmental organizations today called for the end of the newly established and internationally controversial non -profit humanitarian institution for Gaza (GHF), as hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks around humanitarian aid distribution centers.

The NGOs refer to the Israeli and US support mechanism, with opaque funding, operating since the end of May in Gaza.

Since May 19, when the GHF began to operate, more than 500 people have been killed in mass attacks by shooting near aid distribution centers or on transport roads kept by Israeli forces in their attempt to receive humanitarian aid.

The UN, along with most NGOs operating in the Gaza Strip, refuse to work with GHF, questioning its practices and neutrality.

Until today at noon in Geneva, 171 charities had signed the joint statement – calling for countries to press Israel to stop the GHF program and restore the United Nations aid aid system.

“NGOs are calling for immediate action to end the Israeli aid distribution program in Gaza, which has led to numerous deaths,” the statement said.

Among the signatories of the statement is NGOs from Europe, USA and Israel active in the fields of medical and food aid, development and human rights protection. Among the organizations signing the announcement was the Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Save The Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Amnesty International.

The organizations have called for the “removal of the exclusion imposed by the Israeli government on assistance and commercial goods”.

“According to the new plan of the Israeli government, starving and weakened civilians are forced to walk for hours in dangerous territories and in war zones. Eventually they are in a violent and chaotic race before they reach fenced and militarized distribution areas, “the NGOs said.

“The Palestinians in Gaza are facing a weak choice: to starve or run the risk of being fired at desperately trying to get to food to nourish their families,” the statement notes.

GHF’s ​​answer

In response to Reuters, the GHF said it has delivered more than 52 million meals to five weeks and noted that the help of other humanitarian organizations was almost plundered.

“Instead of quarreling and throwing infestations from the sidelines, we would welcome other humanitarian organizations to follow us and feed people in Gaza,” the GHF told Reuters.

The NGOs accused GHF of forcing hungry and weak people to walk for hours, sometimes through active conflict zones, to receive food aid.

Israel has repeatedly stated that its forces are operating close to the distribution centers to prevent help from being in the hands of Hamas fighters.