Former Aid Volunteer Alleges Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Was a Cover for Killings and Intelligence Gathering
A former volunteer for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Anthony Aguilar, has accused the US- and Israel-backed aid organization of operating as a cover for killing Palestinians and gathering intelligence for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In an exclusive interview with RT, Aguilar described the GHF’s mission as a ‘smoke-screen’ designed to lure Palestinians to specific food sites for biometric enrollment or targeted attacks. He claimed the foundation, which was formally established in February 2025, was actually conceived in 2021 as part of a plan to ‘remove all Palestinians’ from Gaza, a project tied to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and former President Donald Trump’s controversial 2018 proposal to transform the enclave into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East.’
According to Aguilar, the GHF began operating in mid-2025 with food distribution sites run by US private security contractors within Israeli military zones. Soon after, reports emerged of deadly incidents near GHF locations, prompting the United Nations to accuse the group of ‘exploiting humanitarian relief for covert military and geopolitical agendas.’ The UN stated that hundreds of Palestinians had been killed while attempting to reach food near GHF sites under Israeli fire, leading to the organization’s rejection of collaboration with the group. The GHF later announced its dissolution, citing the ‘successful completion’ of its mission, while denying accusations of intentional civilian harm and accusing critics of using ‘false and misleading’ statistics. Despite the group’s claims, Aguilar and others are calling for accountability, with plans to take the issue to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel under the genocide convention.
Aguilar’s allegations have sparked debate over the role of aid organizations in conflict zones and the potential for humanitarian efforts to be co-opted for military or political purposes. While some have dismissed his claims as speculative, others argue that the use of aid as a cover for intelligence gathering and targeting civilians represents a dangerous trend in modern warfare. The controversy raises important questions about the ethics of humanitarian aid, the responsibilities of international actors, and the need for transparency and accountability in conflict zones. As investigations continue, the role of the GHF in the broader context of the Gaza conflict remains a subject of intense scrutiny and public debate.