🔗 Share this article

The controversial, United States and Israel-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is concluding its aid operations in the Gaza region, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

The organisation had already suspended its several relief locations in Gaza after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into force in recent weeks.

The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the primary provider of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

UN and other aid agencies declined to participate with its methodology, stating it was unethical and unsafe.

Hundreds of Palestinians were killed while trying to acquire nourishment amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, mostly by Israeli fire, based on UN documentation.

Israeli authorities stated its forces fired warning shots.

Operation Conclusion

The foundation announced on recently that it was concluding activities now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its emergency mission", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals distributed to Gazans.

The organization's top administrator, the executive director, additionally stated the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been created to help execute 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, had major impact in convincing militant groups to participate and achieving a ceasefire."

Feedback and Statements

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

A representative of stated GHF should be held accountable for the damage it inflicted to Palestinians.

"We request all global human rights groups to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after causing the death and injury of numerous Palestinians and concealing the starvation policy employed by the Israeli authorities."

Operational Background

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on May 26th, a short period subsequent to Israel had partially eased a complete restriction on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that continued for 77 days and caused severe shortages of vital resources.

Three months later, a food crisis was announced in the Gaza metropolitan area.

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

Humanitarian Concerns

The UN and its partners claimed the system contravened the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that guiding distressed residents into militarised zones was inherently unsafe.

The UN's human rights office stated it documented the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans seeking food in the proximity to foundation locations between late May through end of July.

Another 514 people were lost their lives close to the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it added.

Most of them were killed by the Israeli military, as per the organization's documentation.

Contrasting Reports

Israel's armed services claimed its troops had fired warning shots at persons who advanced toward them in a "intimidating" way.

The foundation stated there were no shooting events at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "untrue and confusing" statistics from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been unclear since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a ceasefire deal to carry out the first phase of the American administration's peace initiative.

The arrangement specified relief provision would take place "without interference from the both sides through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the international relief society, in combination with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

UN spokesperson the UN spokesman declared this week that the GHF's shutdown would have "no influence" on its operations "as we never partnered with them".

He also said that while increased relief was entering the region since the truce was implemented on October 10th, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the over two million inhabitants.