Canadian charity pauses Gaza aid after U.S.-backed group takes over distribution

A Canadian charity, Human Concern International (HCI), has recently announced the suspension of aid distribution to the Gaza Strip. The decision was made due to concerns that the aid would not reach the Palestinians in need, as a result of controls imposed by a new U.S.-backed entity in the region.

HCI’s chief programs officer, Iftikhar Shaikh Ahmad, stated at a news conference on Parliament Hill that the organization had made a difficult but principled decision to halt the delivery of 38,000 boxes of food in 17 fully loaded aid trucks. The aid was intended to support the vulnerable population in Gaza, but HCI feared that the distribution process under the new entity, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), was not in line with humanitarian principles.

The GHF, established with the approval of the Israeli government, has taken over aid distribution from independent groups in Gaza. However, concerns have been raised about the accessibility of aid distribution centers, particularly for Palestinians in the northern regions of Gaza where many displaced individuals reside.

Despite the GHF’s commitment to building distribution centers across Gaza, including in the north, specific locations have not been disclosed. This lack of transparency has raised doubts about the safety and inclusivity of the aid distribution process, especially for those who may have to navigate Israeli military checkpoints to access assistance.

The situation escalated when the head of the GHF resigned, citing a failure to adhere to humanitarian principles. Reports emerged of Palestinians being injured during aid distribution as the Israeli military fired warning shots at crowds rushing the distribution hubs.

Humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam Canada and Save the Children, have joined HCI in calling on the Canadian government to impose sanctions on Israel. They have highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza, with children facing hunger and a lack of basic necessities like clean water.

Rachael Cummings, a representative from Save the Children, shared harrowing accounts of children in Gaza expressing their wishes for food and water, with some even expressing a desire for death to escape their suffering. The urgency of the situation has prompted calls for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

While the Canadian government has previously threatened sanctions against Israel, concrete steps have yet to be taken. Pressure is mounting on Ottawa to act decisively and uphold humanitarian principles in the face of escalating tensions in the region.

As the debate continues in Parliament, opposition parties like the Bloc Québécois and NDP are advocating for sanctions and recognition of a Palestinian state. The need for a coordinated and compassionate response to the crisis in Gaza remains paramount, with the international community closely monitoring developments and urging swift action to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population.