'Death trap': Rashida Tlaib slams US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib joined a chorus of voices on Friday in condemning a widely criticised US-Israeli-backed aid distribution group, amid an increasing number of deadly incidents near its aid points across the Gaza Strip.

Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, posted on the social media platform X, that the recently established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was a "death trap" for Gaza’s two million residents.

Her remarks come amid reports of widespread famine in the territory, which has been subjected to intense Israeli bombardment since 7 October 2023.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which began operations in late May, has been promoted by the US and Israel as a vehicle to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza’s devastated civilian population, after Israel banned UNRWA, the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees.

The UN has condemned the Israel and US backed initiative as a 'lethal' system of aid delivery and said that it cannot supplant the work of UNRWA and other established aid agencies.

Since its launch, the project has been marred by a rising death toll among Palestinians desperately seeking assistance, as well as concerns regarding its political neutrality.

"Now, the Trump Admin has decided to support this death trap with $30 million. This is genocide- we are funding it. And the world is doing nothing to stop it," Tlaib wrote on X.

Her comments followed Thursday’s announcement from the US State Department that it had approved its first direct funding of the Israeli-supported initiative in Gaza.

Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott confirmed the allocation of $30 million, and urged other countries to contribute.

Despite several major aid organisations- including the UN- refusing to work with the GHF, the group has doubled down on claims of success in delivering aid to Palestinians in need.

This comes despite growing reports of repeated civilian casualties at or near GHF distribution centres in the war-torn enclave.

GHF’s interim executive director, John Acree, defended the initiative, stating it represents an opportunity for "unity and collaboration".

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 550 Palestinians have been killed in the vicinity of GHF aid centres since operations began.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), also condemned the distribution system in a post on X on Friday, describing it as a "killing field”, where people are “shot at while trying to access food for themselves and their families."

"This abomination must end through a return to humanitarian deliveries from the UN, including @UNRWA," Lazzarini said.