Switzerland has stated that it is considering launching a legal investigation into the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization established through collaboration between the United States and Israel to bring the distribution of food and humanitarian aid in Gaza under full Israeli control. GHF is an American-affiliated foundation registered in Switzerland. Switzerland made this statement after a Swiss NGO requested relevant authorities to examine GHF’s planned method of delivering aid to Gaza. The UN has also opposed distributing aid to Gaza through this foundation, stating that GHF is not an independent, impartial organization. The UN has further noted that if aid is distributed through this foundation, it would force more Gazans to leave their homes and put thousands of people at risk.
In late May, as GHF was preparing to distribute aid in Gaza, the organization stated that it operates in strict adherence to humanitarian principles. GHF also asserted that it does not support any form of forced relocation of Gaza’s residents. TRIAL International, a Swiss NGO, said it had requested two Swiss authorities to examine whether GHF, registered in Switzerland, complies with Swiss law and international humanitarian law. The NGO sought information from the Swiss Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). TRIAL International said it had asked the FDFA to clarify whether GHF had submitted a resolution requesting the use of private security companies for aid distribution, as per Swiss law, and whether Swiss authorities had approved such a request.
The FDFA said it was examining whether GHF needs to submit such a resolution. However, the FDFA stated that the Federal Supervisory Board for Foundations could only assess GHF’s compliance with the board’s regulations once the foundation begins its operations. The United States and Israel have planned to establish six large camps in Gaza and distribute aid from these areas according to specific protocols. The plan is to force all Gaza residents to relocate to these camps. Each camp is designed to accommodate between 5,000 and 6,000 families. These camps will be under the control of Israeli military forces. The Israeli military will establish special centers for aid distribution in these areas. The responsibility for security at these locations is set to be assigned to two American companies.
