Two U.S. Aid Workers Injured in Grenade Attack at Gaza Food Site
Two American aid workers were injured in a grenade attack by Hamas at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site in Rafah, highlighting ongoing dangers to humanitarian efforts. The IDF facilitated their evacuation, amid broader criticisms of the aid system and escalating regional violence.
Two American aid workers from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were wounded in a grenade attack at a food distribution site in Rafah, southern Gaza, while civilians gathered to receive essential supplies. The assault, which occurred around 8:00 AM IDT last Thursday, involved two grenades hurled by assailants, one of which detonated, causing non-life-threatening injuries to the workers. The U.S.- and Israel-backed GHF, which has distributed over 62 million meals since May 2025, blamed Hamas for the attack, with no immediate comment from the terror group. The injured workers, whose identities remain undisclosed, were safely evacuated by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and are stable, receiving medical treatment at an Israeli hospital.
IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani condemned the attack on social media, stating, “Just this morning, terrorists threw two grenades into an aid distribution site in Rafah, while civilians were still present. As a result of the explosion of one of the grenades, two American Gaza Humanitarian Foundation personnel were injured.” He accused Hamas and other militant groups of sabotaging humanitarian efforts, which wouldn't be the first time. Reverend Johnnie Moore, GHF spokesperson, tweeted, “This morning, two American aid workers were injured distributing food as part of GHF activities. Early indication is that this was hostile action by Hamas. GHF continues to investigate and will update with more information as it becomes available.” Moore added, “All we want to do is feed Gazans. That’s all. These Americans are heroes who put their lives in harm’s way every day to do it.”
The attack follows a June 11 incident where eight GHF Palestinian workers were killed in a similar assault, also attributed to Hamas. The UN and aid groups have criticized GHF’s operations, citing 400 Palestinian deaths which have not been confirmed and multiple attacks commited by Hamas on the centres. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack killing 1,200 and abducting 251, has led to intense IDF operations in Gaza to eliminate Hamas who are slowly losing control over the area and refer to any means in order to take aid for themselves rather than Gazan civillians.