Swiss Authority Orders Shut Down of Gaza Aid Group

(MENAFN) A disputed relief organization operating in Gaza and supported by both Israel and the United States, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), is being officially terminated in Geneva, as stated by a Swiss public broadcaster on Wednesday.

The GHF opened its Geneva branch earlier this year as an Israeli-led alternative to circumvent established aid channels managed by the United Nations in Gaza.

Based on a report from the broadcaster, the Swiss Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (ASF) mandated the organization's closure after finding that the GHF lacked a local representative and address in Switzerland, and had taken no steps to remedy the problem.

This decision was validated by the country's Home Affairs Department.

In early June, the Swiss Foreign Ministry told a news agency that the legal classification of the GHF’s Geneva branch was found to be "inactive" and "noncompliant" with national legal standards.

The mechanism behind the GHF sparked disapproval from the global community and received swift condemnation from the UN, particularly after chaotic aid distributions led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. UN investigators described the initiative as "outrageous."

This international backlash contributed to the resignation of the GHF's Swiss-based director.

Meanwhile, the Swiss non-governmental organization TRIAL International lodged two official complaints with federal regulators, demanding clarity around the foundation's activities.

TRIAL International responded positively to Wednesday’s decision, stating it "is not surprised" by the outcome, especially in light of the legal actions it had submitted earlier in May.

MENAFN03072025000045017167ID1109754992