Geneva: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday called for prompt and impartial investigations into all killings of Palestinians by Israeli occupation forces at aid distribution points associated with the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" reportedly backed by Israeli occupation and the United States and demanded accountability for those responsible.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, Thameen Al-Kheetan, emphasized in a statement from Geneva that the killing and wounding of civilians due to the unlawful use of firearms constitutes a grave breach of international law and a war crime. Al-Kheetan noted that since the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" began operating on May 27, the Israeli military has shelled and shot Palestinians attempting to reach the distribution points, resulting in numerous fatalities. Reports indicate that more than 410 Palestinians have been killed in aid distribution contexts, with at least 93 more reportedly killed by Israeli forces while trying to access limited aid convoys from the UN and other humanitarian organizations. Additionally, at least 3,000 injuries have been reported in these incidents.
Al-Kheetan also warned of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions across the Gaza Strip, where civilians face the dire choice of starvation or risking death to obtain food. He criticized Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism, stating it contradicts international standards on aid distribution and endangers civilians, exacerbating Gaza's humanitarian crisis. He further emphasized that weaponizing food for civilians and restricting access to essential services constitutes a war crime and can contribute to other crimes under international law. He highlighted that the entire Strip is on the brink of famine due to the Israeli occupation's ongoing closure, restrictions on humanitarian aid entry and distribution, and systematic destruction of Gaza's local food production and economy, coupled with forced mass displacements over the past 20 months.
Al-Kheetan added that Israeli occupation continues to impose severe restrictions on the work of the UN and other humanitarian organizations, preventing them from delivering essential aid including food and fuel into Gaza. He noted that only a limited number of trucks have been allowed entry since March 2, 2025. Scenes of chaos reportedly surround the food distribution points of the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" and the few UN humanitarian convoys, where women, children, older, and disabled people face multiple challenges and potential risks of exploitation and abuse. Al-Kheetan urged the Israeli occupation military to cease shooting at individuals attempting to access food and to permit the entry of necessary humanitarian assistance in compliance with international law. He stressed the urgent need for Israel to lift unlawful restrictions on UN and other humanitarian actors, and called on third States to take concrete steps to ensure Israel fulfills its duty to provide sufficient food and lifesaving necessiti es to Gaza's population.