CAIR Condemns Israeli Aid Distribution as “Killing Zones” After Civilians Slaughtered at Gaza Site
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned Israeli aid distribution sites in Gaza as "killing zones" after Israeli forces killed at least 31 Palestinians and wounded over 150 others on Sunday, June 1, 2025, near a controversial aid center in Rafah operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The nation's largest Muslim civil rights organization characterized the incident as "pure evil". It accused Israel of using aid distribution as a "cruel publicity stunt" to deflect from what CAIR termed a "forced starvation campaign" against Palestinian civilians.
The deadly shooting occurred as thousands of desperate Palestinians gathered near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's distribution point in southern Gaza's Rafah area, marking the most lethal incident since the controversial aid mechanism began operations last week.
Deadly Morning at Rafah Aid Site
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and terror as Israeli tanks opened fire on crowds gathered approximately 1,000 yards from the aid distribution center on Sunday morning. According to The Associated Press, Ibrahim Abu Saoud, a 40-year-old witness, reported that Israeli forces fired from about 300 meters away as people approached the distribution area.
"There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones," Amr Abu Teiba, who was present in the crowd, told CBS News. He reported seeing at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and several wounded people, including women, as residents used carts to transport the dead and injured to field hospitals.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported 31 fatalities and 170 wounded, while officials at a nearby Red Cross field hospital initially reported 21 deaths and 175 injuries. Mohammed Ghareeb, a journalist from Rafah, told the BBC that the gathering occurred around 4:30 AM near the GHF facility when Israeli tanks advanced and began shooting.
"The deceased and the injured remained on the ground for an extended period. Rescue teams could not reach the location, which is under Israeli control. As a result, residents resorted to using donkey carts to transport the wounded to the field hospital."
— Mohammed Ghareeb, Rafah journalist, to BBC
CAIR's Fierce Condemnation
In a strongly worded statement, CAIR characterized the aid distribution sites as deliberately designed death traps rather than humanitarian relief points. The organization's condemnation came as part of a broader critique of what it described as Israel's systematic use of aid as a weapon of war.
"These 'aid' concentration sites – in which a handful of desperate people are given starvation rations as a cruel publicity stunt designed to deflect attention from Israel's forced starvation campaign – are in reality 'killing zones' for that state's machine of death and destruction. This is pure evil, operating with impunity and with the world's silence."
— CAIR statement
The organization demanded that "the genocide must stop and the Palestinian people must be recognized as human beings deserving freedom and justice on their own land"1. CAIR's characterization of the sites as "concentration areas" and "killing zones" represents some of the harshest language yet used by the civil rights organization in condemning Israeli actions in Gaza.
The Controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has emerged as one of the most contentious aspects of aid delivery in Gaza since its launch in late May 2025. The organization, backed by both Israel and the United States, aims to bypass traditional UN-led humanitarian distribution systems, claiming this approach prevents Hamas from intercepting aid.
According to ABC News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the initiative on May 19, stating that Israel, "with our American friends," was creating a "system with distribution centers" that would be "secured by the IDF, preventing Hamas from reaching the area"5. The foundation employs private security contractors and operates under Israeli military protection in zones controlled by the Israel Defense Forces.
However, humanitarian organizations and the United Nations have refused to collaborate with the GHF, citing violations of humanitarian principles. The UN described the images from recent incidents as "heartbreaking" and stated that the foundation's approach "does not meet" the principles of impartial and safe aid distribution.
Pattern of Violence at Aid Sites
Sunday's deadly incident represents the culmination of a week marked by violence and chaos at GHF distribution points. According to Al Jazeera, this was the third violent incident at the foundation's sites since operations began, bringing the total death toll to over 40 Palestinians killed while seeking aid.
The Associated Press reported that on Tuesday, May 27, one Palestinian was killed and 47 others were injured when shots were fired into a crowd at an aid distribution site in Rafah. The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged firing "warning shots" in the area but claimed they did not fire into the crowd.
Ahmed Bayram from the Norwegian Refugee Council, speaking to Al Jazeera, characterized the aid delivery system as "the most dangerous in the world" and accused it of being "orchestrated by Israel and the GHF." He stated that "all humanitarian principles have been thrown against the wall".
"It is clearly linked to Israeli security goals. There is nothing independent about this; there is no neutrality. Obviously, this fits with what Israel wants to achieve on the ground."
— Ahmed Bayram, Norwegian Refugee Council
International Outcry and Denial
The incident has sparked international condemnation, with Palestinian authorities and human rights organizations calling for immediate intervention. The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned the attacks, characterizing the GHF's distribution points as "mass death traps, not humanitarian relief points".
In contrast, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has consistently denied reports of violence and casualties. Following Sunday's incident, the GHF dismissed what it called "false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos" around its sites, claiming it had delivered 16 truckloads of aid "without incident".
The Israeli military released a brief statement saying it was "currently unaware of injuries caused by (Israeli military) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site" and that "the matter is still under review".
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The violence at aid sites occurs against the backdrop of what UN experts describe as a famine affecting all of Gaza's 2.1 million residents. Michael Fakhri, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, told Al Jazeera that it is "safe to say there is famine" in Gaza.
Fakhri characterized the GHF's operations as a form of manipulation, stating that Israel is using aid "as bait to herd people" and force them from northern areas into heavily militarized zones. "This is about degrading people and controlling the population. This has nothing to do with addressing hunger," he said.
"The danger is that we are seeing a situation where the UN and international humanitarian agencies are being sidelined. This could set a dangerous precedent for the future, where aid is weaponized in other conflicts."
— Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food
The current crisis stems from an 11-week Israeli blockade of aid delivery that ended in late May 2025. According to Wikipedia, the blockade was initiated by Israeli protest groups, including "Tsav 9," "Warrior Mothers," and "Forum Tikva," to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack.
Replacement of Established Aid Systems
The GHF's controversial approach represents a significant departure from traditional humanitarian aid delivery. According to Al Jazeera, the foundation has replaced 400 previous distribution points with just four centralized locations. This concentration has created dangerous bottlenecks where thousands of desperate Palestinians gather in Israeli-controlled military zones.
Bassam Zaqout from the Palestinian Medical Relief Society criticized the new system, telling Al Jazeera, "I believe there are various hidden agendas in this aid distribution system. This mechanism does not address the needs of the population, including the elderly and individuals with disabilities".
The International Committee of the Red Cross emphasized that "aid must reach those who need it most, irrespective of where they are in Gaza, safely and with dignity," highlighting the failure of the current system to meet basic humanitarian standards.
US Role Under Scrutiny
While the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation claims US backing, the exact nature of American involvement remains unclear. According to ABC News, "the U.S. government has not publicly commented on the GHF or what role it plays in the organization". The foundation has no public website, and its operations lack the transparency typically found in established humanitarian organizations.
Jake Wood, an American military veteran who briefly led the GHF, resigned abruptly on May 25, just hours before aid distribution was scheduled to begin. His departure highlighted internal concerns about the foundation's operations and approach.
The controversy has put the United States in a difficult position, as it continues to support the initiative despite mounting evidence of its deadly consequences. Critics argue that American backing of the GHF undermines established humanitarian principles and sets a dangerous precedent for the delivery of aid in conflict zones.
Hamas and Palestinian Response
Hamas, which governs Gaza, issued a statement characterizing the Israeli gunfire as evidence of "premeditated intent" and holding both Israel and the United States "fully accountable for the fatalities". The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine condemned the killings as a "complete war crime" and called for international intervention to "halt this ongoing massacre and enforce strict accountability measures".
Palestinian civil society organizations have consistently opposed the GHF model, arguing that it legitimizes Israeli control over humanitarian aid and creates new mechanisms for collective punishment. They contend that the foundation's operations amount to using aid as a weapon of war, violating fundamental humanitarian principles.
Breaking Point for Aid Workers
The repeated violence at GHF sites has created an untenable situation for humanitarian workers and aid recipients alike. According to Reuters, the foundation's staff have been forced to retreat multiple times due to overwhelming crowds and security concerns.
Hind Khoudary, reporting for Al Jazeera from Gaza, noted that Palestinians are being killed while attempting to obtain "one meal for their children." She described the inadequate nature of the aid packages, stating, "Even the food parcels given to Palestinians are hardly sufficient. We are talking about one kilogram of flour, a few bags of pasta, and some beans – it's not a nutritious option. It's inadequate for a family in Gaza these days".
The dangerous conditions have created a cycle where desperate hunger drives Palestinians to risk their lives for minimal food supplies, only to face potentially lethal consequences from Israeli forces.
Legal and Ethical Implications
International legal experts have raised serious concerns about the GHF model and its implementation. The use of military force to control aid distribution violates established humanitarian law, which requires that assistance be provided safely and without discrimination.
The targeting of civilians seeking humanitarian aid constitutes a potential war crime under international law. Human rights organizations have documented a pattern of Israeli forces firing on Palestinian civilians in various contexts throughout the current conflict, with aid distribution sites representing a new front in this systematic targeting.
CAIR's characterization of the sites as "concentration areas" invokes historical parallels that underscore the gravity of the current situation and the systematic nature of the restrictions imposed on Palestinian movement and access to basic necessities.
Calls for Accountability
As international pressure mounts for accountability regarding Sunday's killings, the future of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's operations remains uncertain. The repeated incidents of violence have undermined any credibility the organization might have claimed as a humanitarian alternative to established aid delivery systems.
CAIR's condemnation represents part of a broader coalition of civil rights, humanitarian, and religious organizations calling for fundamental changes to aid delivery in the Gaza Strip. The organization's characterization of the current situation as genocide reflects growing international concern about the systematic nature of restrictions on Palestinian access to food, water, and medical care.
The deadly pattern at GHF sites has reinforced calls for a return to traditional humanitarian principles and the restoration of UN-led aid coordination in Gaza. International humanitarian organizations continue to argue that effective aid delivery requires neutrality, impartiality, and independence – qualities that the current system lacks entirely.
The events of June 1, 2025, may represent a turning point in international perception of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the broader approach to aid delivery in Gaza. As CAIR and other organizations continue to document and condemn what they characterize as systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians, pressure is mounting for fundamental changes to protect those seeking basic humanitarian assistance.
The international community faces urgent questions about complicity in a system that has repeatedly resulted in civilian casualties and whether continued support for the GHF model represents a dangerous abandonment of humanitarian principles that have guided international aid delivery for decades.