Palestine: One year on, survivors of violence at Gaza food distribution points live with lasting injuries
Amid evolving plans for Gaza, MSF reminds Israel and the U.S. militarized aid must never be repeated.
One year ago, the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) replaced the UN-coordinated aid distribution system and began militarized food distribution points across the Gaza Strip. The GHF — run by Israel with financial support from the U.S. and other allies — closed within six months, as continual violence at the sites killed and injured thousands.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) still treats scores of people impacted by this violence and living with trauma and lifelong injuries. Amid evolving plans for Gaza, MSF reminds Israel and the U.S. that the militarization of humanitarian assistance poses significant risk of grave violence and should never be repeated.
“As MSF documented with medical evidence, people who were seeking food in desperate and siege-like conditions suffered horrendous levels of targeted and indiscriminate violence,” says Joan Tubau, MSF country director for Palestine. “Children were shot in the chest while reaching for food, people were crushed or suffocated in stampedes and entire crowds were gunned down at distribution points. Today, many GHF-related patients are entirely dependent on charity and community kitchens due to their mobility issues and lack of ability to work and provide for their families.”
The GHF was established to deliver food assistance to people in Gaza, following months of blockade by Israel. Four GHF sites replaced approximately 400 existing aid sites in late May 2025 and were “secured” by private American armed contractors, with the Israeli forces maintaining control over the wider perimeter.
“GHF was so humiliating. Thousands of people would run towards it, then the Israel Defense Forces would shoot on us from fixed points. Two thirds of the injured people in Gaza I know were cases from GHF.”
Mustafa, patient supported by MSF
Between June and October 2025, MSF teams recorded at least 32 deaths and treated 1,885 patients for injuries at MSF’s Al Attar and Al-Mawasi primary healthcare centres in Khan Younis.
Survivors describe shootings and lasting injuries
“My friend was executed in front of my eyes. It still haunts me,” says Karim, a former barber. Karim suffered life-changing injuries that permanently damaged a nerve in his leg. “Both of us were caught [by Israeli soldiers] and handcuffed behind our backs. A drone was called above me and four men were asked to take me away.”
Another patient, Muhammad, was shot nine times. He hopes to walk again but suffers chronic pain and needs physiotherapy. “There was never enough food for everyone,” says Muhammad. “There was a lot of crushing because the narrow iron gates were not wide enough. I saw many dead, including women. One was shot in the chest and one in the back. They were shooting at many different points. The Israeli soldier shooting at me was stationed on a hill. While lying on the ground, I waved ‘please stop, that’s enough,’” says Muhammad. “But he shot at my hands just for fun.”
“Despite its temporary existence, this devastating aid scheme brought broader social consequences as it forced people into extreme fear, scarcity and competition, leading to trauma and changes in community dynamics.”
Nicholas Papachrysostomou, MSF emergency coordinator for Gaza
After a gunshot wound broke two of his bones, Mustafa, a taxi driver from Rafah, developed a heel infection which caused rotting. “GHF was so humiliating,” says Mustafa whose 17-year-old nephew was shot in the head and killed by a sniper. “Thousands of people would run towards it, then the Israel Defense Forces would shoot on us from fixed points. Two thirds of the injured people in Gaza I know were cases from GHF.”
These testimonies are reflective of many who now live with lasting injuries or who still require close and constant medical follow-up.
“Despite its temporary existence, this devastating aid scheme brought broader social consequences as it forced people into extreme fear, scarcity and competition, leading to trauma and changes in community dynamics,” says Nicholas Papachrysostomou, MSF emergency coordinator for Gaza.
Aid restrictions worsened existing malnutrition and famine conditions
The GHF played a key role in Isael’s deliberate malnutrition crisis. The drastic reduction of food and aid distribution points compounded by the total siege, intensified violence, mass displacement and destruction of health facilities, had a direct role in the famine declared in mid-2025. Malnutrition had devastating consequences on vulnerable people including pregnant women, newborns and children.
“Nothing about GHF was a humanitarian solution,” says Joan Tubau. “One year on, the magnitude of the harm inflicted on people at GHF distribution points without any accountability requires an independent investigation. The International Court of Justice ruling of Oct. 22, 2025, reinforces Israel’s obligation to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and condemns aid models, including the GHF, that fail to alleviate suffering.”
MSF is calling on Israel, the U.S., and all institutions of influence to ensure aid is non-militarized, accessible and built on independence, impartiality, neutrality and humanity. Humanitarian assistance must be delivered to people safely and at scale, based on vulnerability and need, regardless of where they live.
*Names of patients have been changed to protect identity
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