Switzerland shuts Geneva branch of controversial GHF Gaza group
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Switzerland has initiated the liquidation of the US-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation due to legal non-compliance.
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Palestinians carry food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-Israeli-backed organization, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Switzerland announced on Wednesday that it would shut down the Geneva branch of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by the US and "Israel", citing the absence of a Swiss address or a local representative in the country as the reason for the closure.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an ostensibly private initiative with unclear funding sources, launched its operations on May 26, following "Israel's" blockade on aid deliveries into Gaza for over two months, a move that triggered widespread warnings of famine.
The operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have been plagued by disorderly conditions and frequent reports of Israeli forces opening fire on crowds gathering to receive aid in the Palestinian territory.
The Swiss Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (ESA) announced in the Official Gazette of Commerce that it had initiated liquidation proceedings for GHF, with an interior ministry spokesperson explaining to AFP that the foundation would be formally dissolved if no creditors came forward within the mandatory 30-day period.
The interior ministry spokeswoman stated that the Geneva branch had failed to meet specific legal requirements, noting that the ESA had given GHF until the end of June to address these compliance issues.
The spokeswoman outlined five key violations: the foundation lacked a Switzerland-based board member with signing authority, failed to maintain the required minimum of three board members, operated without a Swiss bank account, provided no valid physical address in the country, and had no designated auditing body overseeing its operations.
GHF faces condemnation from international organizations
The United Nations and other humanitarian foundations have refused to cooperate with the Israeli-US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation over concerns that the aid mechanism was designed to meet Israeli military objectives rather than humanitarian goals.
The UN human rights office reported last week that since GHF launched operations, Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked Palestinians attempting to access distribution sites with gunfire and shelling, resulting in numerous deaths.
Over 130 charitable organizations and NGOs demanded on July 1 the shutdown of the US and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), characterizing it as fundamentally problematic and hazardous.
Major international organizations such as Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International reported that more than 500 Palestinians had died and approximately 4,000 sustained injuries while attempting to reach aid distribution points since the GHF commenced operations in late May, which followed "Israel's" three-month blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The coalition's statement alleges that Israeli forces and armed factions have regularly opened fire on civilians attempting to access humanitarian assistance, while contending that the GHF's operations have established dangerously congested and militarized areas where Gaza's two million residents must endanger themselves to obtain essential provisions.
