Disputed United States-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Humanitarian Work

The disputed, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is terminating its humanitarian work in the affected area, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

The foundation had earlier paused its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.

The GHF aimed to avoid UN systems as the main supplier of relief to Palestinian residents.

United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups would not collaborate with its methodology, saying it was questionable and hazardous.

Numerous Gazans were killed while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near the foundation's locations, primarily from Israeli forces, according to the UN.

Israel said its forces fired alerting fire.

Mission Completion

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 aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions provided to residents.

The organization's top administrator, the executive director, further mentioned the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been set up to help carry out the United States' Palestinian peace proposal - would be "taking over and developing the model GHF piloted".

"The organization's system, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, had major impact in convincing militant groups to participate and securing a halt in hostilities."

Comments and Positions

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, according to reports.

A spokesman for said the organization should be held accountable for the damage it inflicted to Gazans.

"We request all international human rights organisations to make certain that consequences are faced after resulting in fatalities and harm of many residents and concealing the starvation policy employed by the Israeli government."

Foundation History

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on late May, a week after Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a total blockade on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and led to substantial deficiencies of necessary provisions.

Three months later, 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 US private security contractors and positioned in regions under Israeli military authority.

Aid Organization Objections

United Nations agencies and their collaborators stated the approach breached the fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that directing needy individuals into armed forces regions was fundamentally dangerous.

United Nations human rights division stated it documented the killing of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food in the area surrounding organization centers between late May through end of July.

Another 514 people were lost their lives close to the paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it further stated.

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

Contrasting Reports

Israel's armed services said its forces had fired warning shots at people who approached them in a "menacing" way.

The GHF said there were no firearm incidents at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "inaccurate and deceptive" figures from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.

Subsequent Developments

The organization's continuation had been uncertain since Hamas and Israel agreed a truce agreement to execute the primary segment of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

It said relief provision would take place "without interference from the involved factions through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other global organizations not connected in any way" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

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

He also said that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "not enough to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.