🔗 Share this article

The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) declares it is terminating its humanitarian work in the Gaza region, after almost six months.

The group had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel came into force six weeks ago.

The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the primary provider of aid to Gaza's population.

International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its system, saying it was improper and dangerous.

Many residents were fatally wounded while attempting to obtain sustenance amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, mostly by Israeli fire, as reported by United Nations.

Israel said its soldiers fired cautionary rounds.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on Monday that it was winding down operations now because of the "successful completion of its emergency mission", with a total of three million packages containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals delivered to Palestinians.

The foundation's chief officer, the executive director, further mentioned the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been established to help implement the United States' Palestinian peace proposal - would be "taking over and developing the approach the organization demonstrated".

"The foundation's approach, in which Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, was significantly influential in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire."

Feedback and Statements

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, based on information.

A representative of stated the foundation should be held accountable for the damage it inflicted to local residents.

"We call upon all international human rights organisations to make certain that consequences are faced after leading to casualties and wounds of many residents and concealing the nutritional restriction approach employed by the Israel's administration."

Foundation History

The foundation started work in Gaza on May 26th, a week after the Israeli government had moderately reduced a complete restriction on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and led to substantial deficiencies of vital resources.

Subsequently, a nutritional emergency was proclaimed in the Palestinian urban center.

The GHF's food distribution sites in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by American private security firms and positioned in Israeli military zones.

Aid Organization Objections

United Nations agencies and their collaborators stated the approach breached the core assistance standards of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that channelling desperate people into military-controlled areas was fundamentally dangerous.

The UN's human rights office said it recorded the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans trying to acquire sustenance in the proximity to foundation locations between 26 May and 31 July.

Another 514 people were killed near the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it also mentioned.

Most of them were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, based on the agency's reports.

Divergent Narratives

Israeli defense forces said its troops had fired warning shots at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" way.

The organization declared there were no firearm incidents at the aid sites and claimed the international organization of using "false and misleading" data from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Subsequent Developments

The foundation's prospects had been indefinite since Hamas and Israel agreed a halt in hostilities arrangement to execute the primary segment of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

The arrangement specified humanitarian assistance would take place "free from intervention from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in conjunction with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

UN spokesperson the UN spokesman said on Monday that the foundation's closure would have "zero effect" on its activities "since we never collaborated with them".

He also said that while increased relief was entering the region since the halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "insufficient to meet all the needs" of the over two million inhabitants.