Gaza Humanitarian Foundation initiative ‘outrageous': UN probe chief
GENEVA: The use of the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to distribute food in the Palestinian territory is 'outrageous,' the head of a UN inquiry said Wednesday.
Navi Pillay, who chairs the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Israel and the Palestinian territories, joined a growing chorus of criticism of the GHF's operations, and cited its US links.
'In every war, the siege and starvation surely leads to death,' the former UN rights chief told journalists.
'But this initiative of what's called a foundation, a private foundation, to supply food, is what I see as outrageous, because it involves the United States itself, the government, and it turns out, as we watch daily, that people who go to those centers are being killed as they seek food.'
An officially private effort with opaque funding, GHF began operations on May 26 after Israel completely cut off supplies into Gaza for more than two months, sparking warnings of mass famine.
The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the foundation over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach GHF distribution points.
Pillay said the commission would 'have to look into... the policy purpose and how it's being effected.
'We have to spell out what is the motive of, right now, the killing of people who are coming for humanitarian aid from this so-called foundation — and that lives are being lost just in trying to secure food for their children.'
Unprecedented in its open-ended scope, the three-person Commission of Inquiry was established by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021 to investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
South African former High Court judge Pillay, 83, served as a judge on the International Criminal Court and presided over the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
On Tuesday she presented the commission's latest report to the Human Rights Council.
It said Israel had attacked Gaza's schools, religious and cultural sites as part of a 'widespread and systematic' assault on the civilian population, in which Israeli forces have committed 'war crimes' and 'the crime against humanity of extermination.'
Israel does not cooperate with the investigation and has long accused it of 'systematic anti-Israel discrimination.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
US Military Preparations at its Peak: Col. Abbas Dahouk
Over the past few days, Trump has made several posts that suggest a direct US military involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict, which erupted on Friday, June 13, 2025. His remarks included that the US has a 'total control of the skies over Iran' and that Tehran should submit to an 'unconditional surrender.' Then, he said about the US striking Iran 'I may do it, I may not do it.' In this context, the Former Senior Military Advisor to US Department of State and Member of the Board of Directors of the National Council on US-Arab Relations, Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, said that the Trump administration is preparing for a military operation while using coercive diplomacy. Military Operation Coming Speaking to BBC Arabic, Dahouk said: 'It seems that the Trump administration tries to gather all these elements to launch a military operation against the most fortified nuclear facility in Iran, which is Fordo.' 'But at the same time, the US continues to use coercive diplomacy to try to put pressure on the Iranian regime through the above-mentioned remarks, that the US is serious about the unconditional surrender,' he added. The Former Senior Military Advisor to US Department of State also suggested that the fact that Israel is dropping bombs on Tehran 'disappoints the Iranians and may push them to take a position on this war and take an action.' So, 'Trump's coercive diplomacy continues and at the same time, preparations go on,' he noted. Moving US Assets American officials told Israeli counterparts that the next 48 hours will be decisive, raising questions about what may happen. In the light of this, Col. Dahouk said: 'The military preparations seem to be at its peak. All these strategic assets have been moved.' These assets include refueling aircraft, US Navy destroyers and warships that have moved to the Middle East. Targeting Fordo All these elements come together to 'prepare for what could be a major strike on specific targets inside Iran,' Dahouk said. In case of US involvement, 'this engagement will be very specific and will target certain nuclear facilities, namely the Fordo nuclear compound, which requires US assets to destroy it,' he said. Moreover, US assets are needed to destroy 'the infrastructure related to Iran's nuclear program, an advanced infrastructure that contributes to building a nuclear bomb,' Dahouk added. Geopolitical Dilemma 'This requires a political decision. Trump has not decided yet on this operation, some elements in his administration want to destroy Iran's nuclear program once and for all, and topple the Iranian regime,' Dahouk noted. On the other hand, he said that other elements want Trump to fulfill his 'America First' promises and to not engage in new wars in the Middle East. Thus, it is a 'geopolitical dilemma' that Trump is trying to decide. But militarily, everything seems ready, according to Dahouk. Short link : Post Views: 75
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
'Nobody Knows': Trump on US Striking Iran
The US President, Donald Trump, declined to say whether his administration has decided to move forward with striking Iran or its nuclear facilities, reported the Associated Press (AP). Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said: 'I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' The US President added that Tehran still has a chance to abandon its nuclear program. 'Nothing's too late. 'I can tell you this. Iran's got a lot of trouble,' he said. Trump also noted that the upcoming week 'is going to be very big— maybe less than a week.' On Tuesday, Trump warned the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that his 'patience is wearing thin,' demanding Tehran's 'unconditional surrender.' In response, Khamenei rejected Trump's threats, saying that Iran will not surrender. He also threatened that any direct US military intervention in Israel's war against Iran will bring 'irreparable damage' for Washington. Commenting on Khamenei's remarks, Trump said: 'I say good luck.' The US President also said that Iranian officials try to reach out to the White House, but 'there's a big difference between now and a week ago.' However, Iran's mission to the UN denied Trump's claim. 'No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,' it said in a statement on X. 'Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress,' it noted, adding that 'Iran shall respond to any threat with a counter-threat, and to any action with reciprocal measures.' Meanwhile, the US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said that the Pentagon was providing options to Trump as he decides next steps on Iran, but refused to say whether the military was planning to take part in Israeli strikes. Short link : Post Views: 129
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
How Israel Used Spies, Smuggled Drones and AI to Stun and Hobble Iran
Israel stunned and hobbled Iran last week when it pulled off an intelligence and military operation years in the making that struck high-level targets with precision. Guided by spies and artificial intelligence, the Israeli military unleashed a nighttime fusillade of warplanes and armed drones smuggled into Iran to quickly incapacitate many of its air defenses and missile systems. With greater freedom to fly over Iran, Israel bombarded key nuclear sites and killed top generals and scientists. By the time Iran mustered a response hours later, its ability to retaliate — already weakened by past Israeli strikes — was greatly diminished. This Associated Press account is based on conversations with 10 current and former Israeli intelligence and military officials, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss clandestine operations. It was not possible to independently verify some of their claims. But the former head of research at Israel's spy agency, the Mossad, confirmed the basic contours of the attack, saying she had inside knowledge of how it was planned and executed. 'This attack is the culmination of years of work by the Mossad to target Iran's nuclear program,' said Sima Shine, the former Mossad research director who is now an analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies. Israel's element of surprise was enhanced by Iranian officials' apparent assumption that Israel wouldn't attack while talks over its rapidly advancing nuclear program were ongoing with the US. A sixth round of talks had been planned for last Sunday in Oman, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu activated 'Operation Rising Lion' on Friday after his country first notified President Donald Trump. Netanyahu has for years said neutralizing Iran's nuclear program was vital for Israel's security, and Israel had previously taken steps to set back Iran's ability to enrich uranium to weapons grade. But Netanyahu said a more aggressive attack proved necessary, as Iran kept advancing its enrichment program despite US diplomatic efforts and warnings from UN watchdogs. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction. Iran's political leaders say their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though it was the only country without the bomb to enrich uranium close to weapons-grade levels. Smuggling drones into Iran The Mossad and the military worked together for at least three years to lay the operational groundwork, according to a former intelligence officer who said he had knowledge of the attack. This person spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the subject. The attack built off knowledge Israel gained during a wave of airstrikes last October, which 'highlighted the weakness of Iranian air defenses,' said Naysan Rafati, an Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group. To further diminish Iranian air defenses and missile systems at the start of last week's attack, Mossad agents had smuggled precision weapons into Iran that were prepositioned to strike from close range, according to two current security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the missions. Those weapons included small, armed drones, which agents snuck into the country in vehicles, according to the former intelligence officer. Mossad agents stationed weapons close to Iranian surface-to-air missile sites, Shine said. The agency works with a mix of people, both locals and Israelis, she said. Using AI and human intelligence to select targets To analyze information it gathered, Israel used the latest artificial-intelligence, or AI, technology, said an intelligence officer involved with selecting individuals and sites to target. He said AI was used to help Israelis quickly sift through troves of data they had obtained. That effort began last October according to the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media; it was one month before Netanyahu said he had ordered the attack plans. An investigation by The Associated Press earlier this year uncovered that the Israeli military uses US-made AI models in war to sift through intelligence and intercept communications to learn the movements of its enemies. It's been used in the wars with Hamas in Gaza and with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The intelligence officer involved in identifying the possible targets said options were first put into various groups, such as leadership, military, civilian and infrastructure. Targets were chosen if they were determined to be a threat to Israel, such as being deeply associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the paramilitary force that controls Iran's ballistic missiles. The officer was tasked with putting together a list of Iranian generals, including details on where they worked and spent their free time. Among the high-level military officials killed since Friday's attack were Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and Gen. Mohammed Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran's armed forces. In addition to AI, the Mossad relied on spies to identify top nuclear scientists and members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to one security official. At least eight members of the Guard, including the head of its missile program, were killed in a single Israeli strike on an underground bunker. Targeting Iranian vehicles Another facet of the attack was to strike Iranian vehicles used to transport and launch missiles. Shine said the strategy was similar to a Ukrainian operation earlier this month in Russia. In that operation, nearly a third of Moscow's strategic bomber fleet was destroyed or damaged with cheaply made drones snuck into Russian territory, according to Ukrainian officials. In an interview with Iranian state-run television, the country's police chief, Gen. Ahmadreza Radan, said 'several vehicles carrying mini-drones and some tactical drones have been discovered.' He added: 'a number of traitors are trying to engage the country's air defense by flying some mini-drones.' How far back does this go? The Mossad is believed to have carried out numerous covert attacks on the Iranian nuclear program over the years, including cyberattacks and the killing of Iranian nuclear scientists. But it rarely acknowledges such operations. In the 2000s, Iranian centrifuges used for enriching uranium were destroyed by the so-called Stuxnet computer virus, believed to be an Israeli and American creation. In 2018, Israel stole an archive of Iranian nuclear research that included tens of thousands of pages of records, said Yossi Kuperwasser, a retired general and former military intelligence researcher who now directs the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. In July 2024, Israel killed a senior leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, with a bomb in a bedroom of a government guesthouse in Tehran. Israel's blistering attack last week on the heart of Iran's nuclear and military structure didn't come out of nowhere, said retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, who heads the Israel Defense and Security Forum think tank. It was the result of 'Israeli intelligence working extensively for years in Iran and establishing a very strong robust presence,' he said.
