A controversial humanitarian aid group operating in Gaza, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has reported that two of its US workers were injured in an attack in Khan Younis. According to the organization, two militants threw grenades at the aid distribution centre, and it has placed the blame on Hamas.
The injured workers are reportedly in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. No other civilians or aid workers were harmed during the incident.
GHF Operations Under Fire Amid Rising Casualties and Renewed Ceasefire Negotiation Signals
The GHF began its aid distribution efforts in May and has since come under heavy criticism. Critics argue the operation endangers civilians by forcing them to walk through active combat zones to reach distribution sites.
Since the program’s inception, over 400 Palestinians seeking aid have been killed by Israeli forces, according to the UN and local health authorities. Israel maintains that the system is necessary to prevent aid from falling into Hamas’s hands.
Grenade Attack on U.S. Aid Workers in Gaza Fuels Tensions as Ceasefire Talks AdvanceThe attack coincides with renewed signals from Hamas indicating a willingness to engage in ceasefire talks with Israel. The GHF stated that the grenade attack occurred at the end of what had otherwise been a successful distribution, where thousands safely received food.
The foundation also claimed it had repeatedly warned of threats from Hamas, specifically targeting American personnel, Palestinian aid workers, and civilians involved in the operation. Hamas has not officially responded to the accusations.
Ceasefire Talks Continue as Gaza Death Toll Rises and Aid Dispute Deepens
While ceasefire discussions are ongoing, violence in Gaza continues. Gaza’s civil defence reported that 32 Palestinians were killed by Israeli military operations on the same day as the aid centre attack. In total, at least 70 people have reportedly died in the past 24 hours.
The Gaza Health Ministry states the overall death toll has now reached 57,338 since the start of Israel’s campaign, which was launched following Hamas’s deadly 7 October 2023 attacks that killed around 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 hostages taken.
As part of the proposed ceasefire plan, the US has suggested a phased exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has responded with a “positive” stance but wants amendments to ensure hostilities do not resume after the ceasefire ends.
A key Hamas demand is the dissolution of the GHF and the handover of all aid distribution to the UN and its partners — a condition Israel has previously refused. Currently, 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive. The dispute over who controls aid delivery remains a contentious barrier to peace efforts.