The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been active for nearly three months, and during this time, the U.N. reports that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and foreign military contractors have shot and killed numerous Palestinians at or near its aid distribution locations. CBS News interviewed a witness who stated that it’s not just the IDF responsible for the gunfire; American subcontractors hired to protect GHF sites are also involved.
The witness, who wishes to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, was employed by an American logistics company as a driver for aid trucks in Israel. He was unaware when he accepted the job that he would be working within Gaza for the GHF. Established in May to take over aid distribution from the United Nations, GHF has received substantial funding from the U.S. government, which praised its humanitarian efforts.
This eyewitness, referred to as Mike, shared videos with CBS News that capture the sound of gunfire, which he asserts was aimed at Palestinians in search of aid. He initially believed the shooting might be warnings, but quickly concluded it was random and indiscriminate. Mike reported that during his frequent visits to the brightly lit aid sites, he never witnessed a moment without gunfire.
According to the U.N.'s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, over 1,800 Palestinians have died while trying to obtain food, with at least 1,000 fatalities occurring near GHF locations. CBS News has documented regular incidents of gunfire at these sites since GHF's operations began. Other former U.S. security contractors have corroborated Mike's account, recounting their observations of shootings aimed at crowds of Palestinians.
Mike noted that Palestinians often waited for hours before the aid sites opened, driven by intense desperation. One of the most harrowing experiences he shared involved being ordered to clean up human and animal remains near a GHF site, an ordeal that left him feeling troubled and distressed.
In response to the allegations raised, GHF firmly denied claims that their contractors have targeted civilians or mishandled human remains. They criticized CBS News for not providing specifics about Mike's information. Mike described the unsettling behavior of some American security personnel, who appeared to take pride in their lethal actions, boasting about their kills in casual conversation.
Now back home, Mike expressed that he felt compelled to speak out, emphasizing that such atrocities should not occur. GHF maintains that their contractors do not fire at civilians and that no casualties have resulted from gunfire within sight of their sites. The IDF has also denied any intention of targeting Palestinian civilians but is investigating the reported incidents of civilian casualties near GHF operations, pledging that any illegal actions will be addressed.
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