Amnesty International has accused Israel and its U.S.-supported aid partner, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), of weaponizing food to commit genocide in Gaza. In a report released Thursday, the rights group claims the Israeli military and GHF turned food distribution centers into lethal zones, killing hundreds of Palestinians and deepening the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. Israel has rejected the findings as antisemitic and false.

Starvation as a Weapon

Amnesty’s report describes GHF’s militarized aid hubs—guarded by private contractors and often located near Israeli military positions—as sites of violence, not relief. It claims that Israel “turned aid-seeking into a booby trap for desperate, starved Palestinians,” citing more than 500 deaths near distribution points over the past month alone.

“This devastating daily loss of life... is the consequence of their deliberate targeting by Israeli forces and the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and lethal methods of distribution,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary general.

Palestinian eyewitnesses and contractors involved in GHF operations have confirmed previous accounts of armed guards using live ammunition and stun grenades to disperse crowds.

Aid Access Blocked, Malnutrition Soars

Amnesty’s condemnation comes amid growing global criticism of GHF—a shadowy U.S.- and Israel-backed initiative formed to replace UN-led aid operations. Over 165 humanitarian organizations have called for the GHF to be shut down, citing manipulation of food aid and its failure to meet basic needs.

The World Food Programme said food consumption in Gaza hit record lows last month, with food diversity at its worst level since the war began. Soaring prices and ongoing closure of crossings have made basic food items inaccessible for most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Despite claims by Israel and GHF that over 56 million meals have been delivered, aid groups insist the efforts fall far short. “The new system allows Israel to use food as a weapon, in violation of humanitarian principles,” critics warned.

Israel Rejects Genocide Allegation

Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Amnesty’s accusations as “propaganda,” accusing the group of siding with Hamas. The army said it only fires on “suspicious individuals” and has facilitated more than 3,000 aid truck entries since May.

Israel maintains that the GHF was necessary to prevent Hamas from siphoning aid—an accusation humanitarian groups reject.

This isn’t the first genocide claim levied against Israel. Amnesty accused Israel last year of seeking the deliberate destruction of the Palestinian people by targeting civilians, demolishing infrastructure, and blocking essential supplies.

Israel, which is also fighting war crimes accusations at the International Criminal Court, insists the allegations are a “blood libel” and part of an anti-Israel campaign.