Disputed US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Relief Activities

The disputed, US and Israel-backed GHF aid organization declares it is winding down its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, following nearly half a year.

The group had earlier paused its several relief locations in Gaza after the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.

The foundation sought to circumvent United Nations channels as the chief distributor of aid to Gaza's population.

United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups declined to participate with its approach, saying it was improper and dangerous.

Many residents were fatally wounded while attempting to obtain sustenance amid chaotic scenes near GHF's sites, primarily from Israeli forces, based on UN documentation.

Israeli authorities stated its troops fired warning shots.

Program Termination

The GHF said on Monday that it was concluding activities now because of the "successful completion of its crisis response", with a total of three million packages containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions delivered to Palestinians.

The organization's top administrator, the foundation leader, further mentioned the United States-operated coordination body - which has been set up to help carry out the United States' Palestinian peace proposal - would be "taking over and developing the system the foundation tested".

"GHF's model, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, had major impact in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire."

Comments and Positions

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

An official from said the organization should be subject to scrutiny for the harm it caused to Gazans.

"We urge all international human rights organisations to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and obscuring the food deprivation strategy employed by the Israeli government."

Organization Timeline

The foundation started work in Gaza on late May, a short period subsequent to Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a comprehensive closure on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and resulted in critical deficits of necessary provisions.

After 90 days, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were managed by United States-based protection companies and situated within Israeli military zones.

Humanitarian Concerns

United Nations agencies and their collaborators claimed the methodology contravened the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that directing needy individuals into militarised zones was inherently unsafe.

International human rights monitoring body reported it tracked the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents attempting to obtain nourishment in the proximity to foundation locations between spring and summer months.

Another 514 people were fatally wounded around the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it added.

The majority of these individuals were fatally wounded by the Israel's armed forces, based on the agency's reports.

Contrasting Reports

Israeli defense forces said its forces had released alerting fire at persons who advanced toward them in a "threatening" way.

The GHF said there were no firearm incidents at the distribution centers and accused the UN of using "false and misleading" figures from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Ongoing Situation

The GHF's future had been indefinite since Hamas and Israel agreed a halt in hostilities arrangement to carry out the initial stage of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

The agreement stated relief provision would take place "free from intervention from the involved factions through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the humanitarian medical organization, in combination with other international institutions not connected in any way" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the foundation's closure would have "no impact" on its operations "as we never partnered with them".

The spokesperson additionally stated that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "inadequate to satisfy all requirements" of the 2.1 million population.