An attack on Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) workers resulted in at least eight fatalities and numerous injuries, with the U.S.-backed organization expressing concern that some team members may have been taken hostage.

GHF interim Executive Director John Acree stated that despite heightened security risks, the organization decided to continue delivering food to Gaza, refusing to be deterred by Hamas’ actions. He called the attack a response to “Hamas’ cowardly murderers.”

GHF Executive Chairman Rev. Johnnie Moore described the incident as a “ruthless assault” on local aid workers who were providing food to starving people. He emphasized their non-combatant, non-political status and called on the international community to condemn the attack and support those working on the ground.

GHF previously stated that Hamas had been threatening its team, aid workers, and aid recipients for days, urging the international community to condemn Hamas.

GHF’s statement emphasized the need for the world to recognize the attack as an attack on humanity, calling for immediate condemnation of Hamas for their actions.

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein addressed the attack online, questioning whether the would condemn it.

Tensions exist between the United Nations and GHF, with the former criticizing the U.S.- and Israeli-backed organization’s aid delivery capabilities. In May, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador accused the U.N. of removing NGOs from an aid database after they boycotted GHF at the international body’s request.

Moore criticized the U.N.’s silence regarding Hamas’ threats and absence following the attack.

Moore further criticized the UN’s slander against GHF’s mission to feed Gaza, asserting that impartiality does not equate to neutrality when distinguishing between good and evil. He invited the UN, WFP, ICRC, EU, GCC, and the world to join GHF’s efforts, or at least boycott Hamas.

Since beginning operations last month, GHF has reportedly distributed approximately 18,647,662 meals via roughly 316,320 boxes. Moore stated that Palestinians receiving aid from GHF have expressed gratitude to the U.S. and President .

Neither the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres nor the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provided a response to ‘s request for comment before publication.