Hamas authorities in Gaza issued a stern warning Thursday against cooperating with the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), accusing the group of endangering civilians and undermining local control of aid distribution.
“It is strictly forbidden to deal with, work for, or assist the American organization or its agents,” said a statement from Gaza’s Hamas-run interior ministry. The ministry threatened severe legal penalties for those found collaborating with GHF.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began operations in late May, has overseen food distribution across the war-torn enclave using a model that sidesteps Hamas control. While the group says it has delivered over 52 million meals in just five weeks, Hamas alleges it is part of a political strategy to weaken local governance.
In a post on X, GHF accused Hamas of “a deliberate campaign to prevent aid from flowing to the people of Gaza outside of Hamas control.”
Since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on May 19, over 400 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food aid, according to the United Nations. A senior U.N. official recently said most of those deaths occurred near GHF sites. Israel has acknowledged civilian harm near the centers and said it has revised its military protocols.
More than 170 humanitarian groups have signed a joint letter urging governments to press Israel to shift aid back to traditional U.N.-run channels, arguing that GHF lacks neutrality.
Hamas has rejected claims that it interferes with humanitarian efforts, while Israel insists its presence near aid sites is necessary to prevent diversion to militant groups.
