🔗 Share this article

The debated, United States and Israel-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is concluding its aid operations in the Gaza region, after almost six months.

The foundation had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.

The GHF aimed to bypass the UN as the chief distributor of aid to Gaza's population.

United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups refused to co-operate with its approach, saying it was questionable and hazardous.

Hundreds of Palestinians were fatally wounded while attempting to obtain sustenance amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, mainly through Israeli military action, according to the UN.

The Israeli military claimed its soldiers fired warning shots.

Program Termination

The foundation announced on the beginning of the week that it was terminating work now because of the "successful completion of its crisis response", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions distributed to Gazans.

The foundation's chief officer, Jon Acree, further mentioned the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been established to help implement the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "taking over and developing the model GHF piloted".

"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 securing a halt in hostilities."

Reactions and Responses

The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - supported the shutdown of the aid organization, as indicated by media.

A representative of declared the organization should be held accountable for the harm it caused to Palestinians.

"We urge all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after resulting in fatalities and harm of numerous Palestinians and concealing the starvation policy employed by the Israeli government."

Foundation History

The foundation started work in Gaza on May 26th, a short period subsequent to the Israeli government had moderately reduced a complete restriction on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and caused severe shortages of vital resources.

After 90 days, a food crisis was announced in the Palestinian urban center.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in southern and central Gaza were managed by US private security contractors and positioned in regions under Israeli military authority.

Humanitarian Concerns

The UN and its partners claimed the methodology breached the core assistance standards of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that channelling desperate people into armed forces regions was intrinsically hazardous.

The UN's human rights office said it recorded the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans attempting to obtain nourishment in the vicinity of GHF sites between late May through end of July.

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

The greater part of these people were fatally wounded by the Israeli forces, based on the agency's reports.

Divergent Narratives

Israeli defense forces stated its soldiers had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" manner.

The GHF said there were no shooting events at the distribution centers and claimed the international organization of using "untrue and confusing" figures from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Subsequent Developments

The foundation's prospects had been indefinite since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a truce agreement to execute the primary segment of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

The arrangement specified humanitarian assistance would take place "without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

International organization official the UN spokesman stated recently that the organization's termination would have "no impact" on its work "since we never collaborated with them".

The spokesperson additionally stated that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the truce was implemented on October 10th, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.