Gaza Aid Foundation Faces Geneva Dissolution

Swiss authorities shutter local arm amid controversy over aid distribution methods.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is facing increased scrutiny as the Swiss authority overseeing foundations has decided to dissolve its Geneva branch. The move comes amid rising calls for the UN to resume control of aid distribution in Gaza.

Key Development

The Federal Foundation Supervisory Authority (ASF) stated that the Geneva subsidiary of the GHF would be dissolved due to non-compliance with legal obligations. The Federal Department of the Interior (DFI), which oversees the AFS, communicated the decision to the Keystone-ATS press agency.

Based in Delaware, USA, the GHF had already registered its Geneva branch as non-operational earlier this year, citing financial constraints. The supervisory authority noted several breaches, including the absence of board members domiciled or authorized to sign in Switzerland, lack of a Swiss bank account, and an invalid address.

Despite the closure, GHF director Johnnie Moore, an evangelical with ties to former President Donald Trump, stated the foundation would not “close” and that its operations in Gaza would continue.

Reactions to the Dissolution

The director of Geneva NGO Trial International, Philip Grant, called the dissolution of the Swiss antenna “inevitable” given the entity’s failure to meet its obligations.

Trial International had previously filed complaints with Swiss authorities in early June, urging investigation into GHF’s compliance with Swiss and international humanitarian law. Grant believes that only actions in the United States could truly affect the Foundation’s operations in Gaza.

Stephen Cornish, Director General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Swiss, welcomed the decision as “an important political signal” consistent with Switzerland’s humanitarian principles. He described the GHF distribution points as “fatal traps disguised in humanitarian aid,” forcing civilians to risk their lives for sustenance.

Controversial Aid System

Since late May, the GHF, with backing from the United States and Israel, has operated a new aid distribution system in Gaza, replacing the previous system managed by UN agencies like UNRWA and other NGOs. The system involves four food distribution centers in military zones, run by American armed contractors. Note, that as of June 2024, UNRWA estimates that 1.7 million people, over 75% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced (UNRWA).

This new mechanism has faced widespread criticism from the humanitarian sector, with major organizations refusing to cooperate. Israel asserts that the system is necessary to prevent aid diversion by groups like Hamas.

Israel imposed a humanitarian blockade on Gaza in early March, restricting the entry of essential supplies. While the blockade has been partially lifted since the GHF system’s implementation, the population remains at risk of famine, and the healthcare system is near collapse.

Mounting International Pressure

More than 170 international NGOs have called for the dismantling of the GHF aid system, advocating for the restoration of the UN-coordinated mechanism. Twenty European countries, including France and Germany, also signed a letter in mid-May requesting that aid distribution be reorganized under the UN and NGOs. Switzerland did not sign, citing concerns about prejudging the foundation.

Following a visit to the Middle East, Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis acknowledged that the foundation “poses a problem because it does not respect humanitarian principles” but suggested it was “learning them.”

Internal Turmoil

According to reports, the Swiss representative of the GHF felt misled by foreign business partners, who allegedly withheld crucial information about the Foundation’s plan. The Geneva lawyer subsequently withdrew in May, leading to the dissolution of the Swiss structure.

In the United States, concerns over compliance with humanitarian principles have led to several high-profile departures from the Foundation, including its director Jake Wood. The Boston Consulting Group also ended its operational support mandate due to increasing criticism.