US guards at GHF sites in Gaza fired at Palestinian aid-seekers, new report says
US guards at GHF sites in Gaza fired at Palestinian aid-seekers, new report says
US subcontractors working for the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) fired at relief-seeking Palestinians together with Israeli forces, an eyewitness told CBS News.
The witness named as Mike, whose real identity has been hidden for fear of reprisal, said he was hired by a US logistics company to drive aid trucks in Israel, not knowing he would be working with the Israeli and US-backed GHF in Gaza.
GHF began operations in May as the only entity approved by Israel to distribute aid inside the blockaded enclave.
At least 2,036 Palestinians have been killed and more than 15,064 wounded while collecting food or queuing for assistance at GHF sites or en route to its centres.
"It took me two or three days to realise that they were actually shooting at people, they weren't shooting at combatants," Mike said, noting that both Israeli troops and US security personnel were firing at civilians.
Asked if these were warning shots, he replied: "No, it's indiscriminate."
The witness had secretly recorded footage, shared with CBS, of some of these attacks, where gunshots could be heard in the clips.
The GHF-run distribution sites have been largely condemned by international organisations and rights activist as "death traps".
Several reports have uncovered evidence of US contractors firing live rounds at starving Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops have admitted to deliberately shooting and killing unarmed Palestinians waiting for aid in the Gaza Strip, following direct orders from their superiors.
Mike indicated that there was not a single moment he did not witness shooting in these distribution zones, which he frequented five days a week for a number of weeks as part of his work schedule.
Metadata from his cell phone confirms the dates and times he said he was working in the war-torn enclave.
Mike also described the conditions under which Palestinians were trying to obtain relief packages, noting that they were gathering in the early hours of the morning just to get food.
He said that he had "never seen a crowd of people behave with such intensity and such desperation".
Human, animal remains around aid sites
According to the American broadcaster, Mike has returned home and will not go back to work.
The truck driver told CBS that some of the Americans hired to secure aid sites made him feel "uncomfortable".
"They would often boast about how many people they've killed, if they've managed to shoot animals... Or how many birds they'd shot because they were bragging about how good their aim was."
Mike told CBS that amongst his worst experiences was when he was tasked by security contractors to clean up human and animal remains nearby the aid sites.
"I struggle to talk about it... I even feel a bit clammy, and I can feel my chest beating harder. I just shut down really," he said.
Asked why he decided to give his testimony, he said that it "just wouldn't sit right with me if I didn't say something".
"These atrocities don't have to happen."
The GHF and Israeli army have denied allegations presented by CBS and other news media, with the GHF adding that they have "never encountered any situation involving unclaimed bodies" at or near their sites.
However, reports and footage of remains found around GHF relief centres have been circulating in recent weeks.
In early August, the Palestinian NGO Addameer said that at least 54 Palestinians were unaccounted for after heading to aid centres operated by the GHF.
"We have documented arrests of aid seekers, including children," Addameer said, as it blamed Israeli forces for blocking efforts to recover the bodies of those reportedly killed near GHF sites.
"Bodies are piling up near aid sites, and in many cases, the [Israeli army] has bulldozed them without allowing proper recovery or identification."
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