Geneva branch of Gaza aid delivery group could face court action

The Geneva branch of an Israeli- and US-backed group that delivers aid to Gaza has been ordered to comply with its registration requirements or face possible court action.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of aid distribution which has been criticised by the United Nations.

The GHF is registered in the United States. It registered an affiliate in Geneva on 12 February.

A legal document posted on the Commercial Register of the Swiss Canton of Geneva dated Thursday said the GHF affiliate had "deficiencies in the organisation that is mandatory by law."

The registry gave the GHF 30 days to fix those deficiencies. If it fails to comply, the case will be forwarded to a local court or supervisory authority for action against it, it said.

The GHF did not immediately respond to a request for comment emailed by Reuters.

The GHF has previously dismissed UN criticism of its operations in Gaza and has told Reuters that the only GHF entity in use today is the foundation established in the US.

The notification by the Geneva registry is separate to a potential investigation that the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs is considering launching into the foundation.

Swiss authorities had previously told Reuters that the foundation does not meet legal requirements including having the right number of board members, a postal address or a Swiss bank account.

Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on 19 May, allowing limited UN deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave seeking aid from both the GHF and UN operations.

The GHF denies there have been any incidents at its sites and said this week that its aid was being securely delivered.

Israeli soldiers speaking to Haaretz, however, say that they were ordered to shoot at crowds near aid distribution sites.

56,331 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, with a further 132,632 wounded.