Two U.S. veterans were injured in a grenade attack while distributing aid in Gaza, as threats against aid workers intensify.

U.S. Veterans Targeted During Gaza Aid Mission

Two American veterans working with the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were wounded in a grenade attack while distributing food aid to Palestinians. The attack, which took place during a routine aid delivery, left both veterans hospitalized and in stable condition. According to GHF, the individuals injured were “highly decorated” and had volunteered their expertise to support relief efforts amid ongoing conflict.

GHF reported that the grenades used in the assault were packed with ball bearings, a tactic known to maximize injuries. The organization released images of the grenade fragments, stating that the weapons were of Iranian origin and commonly used by Hamas militants. Following the attack, the assailants reportedly escaped into a crowd of civilians, complicating immediate apprehension.

Escalating Threats and International Response

The attack follows repeated warnings from GHF about credible threats targeting American and Palestinian aid workers. “GHF has repeatedly warned of credible threats from Hamas, including explicit plans to target American personnel, Palestinian aid workers, and the civilians who rely on our sites for food. Today’s attack tragically affirms those warnings,” the group posted on X.

Reverend Johnnie Moore, GHF Executive Chairman, criticized international silence and accused both the media and the United Nations of providing legitimacy to Hamas. “I am sorry to say also that today’s terror attack on Americans is partly a byproduct of the legitimacy that many in the press and at the [U.N.] provide to Hamas —amplifying Hamas’s lies about GHF every day, but also actively collaborating with Hamas,” Moore stated on X.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the violence, remarking, “With Hamas no good deed goes unpunished.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also weighed in, with International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stating that IDF troops facilitated a safe evacuation for the injured veterans and that Hamas continues to harm both aid efforts and the civilians of Gaza.

GHF has also accused the international aid community and media of ignoring warnings and failing to denounce violence against its staff. “For weeks, we warned this would happen. We asked the aid community to condemn threats. They stayed silent. We asked the media to stop laundering Hamas lies. They kept printing. Today, Hamas followed through by attacking American veterans with grenades as they delivered food. The silence is deafening,” GHF wrote.

Bounties and Ongoing Risk for Aid Workers

The attack came just one week after GHF revealed that Hamas had allegedly placed bounties on its aid workers, both American and Palestinian, offering cash rewards for killing or injuring them. GHF emphasized that their staff, despite the mounting dangers, are “heroes who are simply trying to feed the people of Gaza in the middle of a war.”

Despite the violence, GHF has pledged to continue its mission, noting that as of July 4, the organization had delivered 60 million meals in Gaza since beginning aid operations in May. The incident underscores the rising risks for humanitarian organizations operating in conflict zones and highlights the broader challenges facing aid delivery amidst ongoing hostilities.