🔗 Share this article

The disputed, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is concluding its humanitarian work in the affected area, following nearly half a year.

The group had earlier paused its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.

The foundation sought to bypass the UN as the main supplier of relief to Palestinian residents.

International relief agencies would not collaborate with its methodology, claiming it was questionable and hazardous.

Numerous Gazans were killed while seeking food amid disorderly situations near the foundation's locations, primarily from Israeli forces, based on UN documentation.

The Israeli military claimed its troops fired alerting fire.

Operation Conclusion

The GHF said 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 amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units provided to residents.

The organization's top administrator, Jon Acree, further mentioned the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been set up to help carry out US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - would be "adopting and expanding the system the foundation tested".

"The organization's system, in which Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, was significantly influential in convincing militant groups to participate and achieving a ceasefire."

Feedback and Statements

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, as indicated by media.

An official from declared the organization should be held accountable for the negative impact it created to Palestinians.

"We request all international human rights organisations to make certain that consequences are faced after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and concealing the food deprivation strategy practised by the Israel's administration."

Operational Background

The foundation started work in Gaza on late May, a week after Israel had partially eased a comprehensive closure on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that continued for 77 days and caused severe shortages of essential supplies.

After 90 days, a famine was declared in Gaza City.

The organization's sustenance provision locations in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were managed by American private security firms and positioned in areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Aid Organization Objections

The UN and its partners claimed the approach violated the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that guiding distressed residents into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.

International human rights monitoring body said it recorded the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents trying to acquire sustenance in the area surrounding organization centers between 26 May and 31 July.

An additional 514 individuals were killed near the paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it also mentioned.

The majority of these individuals were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, based on the agency's reports.

Contrasting Reports

The Israeli military stated its soldiers had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "threatening" manner.

The organization declared there were no shootings at the distribution centers and claimed the international organization of using "untrue and confusing" data from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Subsequent Developments

The foundation's prospects had been uncertain since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a halt in hostilities arrangement to implement the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

The agreement stated aid distribution would take place "free from intervention from the both sides through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in conjunction with other worldwide bodies not connected in any way" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

United Nations representative Stephane Dujarric declared this week that the GHF's shutdown would have "no influence" on its operations "since we never collaborated with them".

The official further mentioned that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the halt in hostilities began on 10 October, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the over two million inhabitants.