🔗 Share this article

The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is terminating its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, after almost six months.

The foundation had earlier paused its several relief locations in Gaza following the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented in recent weeks.

The organization attempted to avoid UN systems as the primary provider of relief to Palestinian residents.

International relief agencies would not collaborate with its approach, saying it was questionable and hazardous.

Hundreds of Palestinians were fatally wounded while trying to acquire nourishment amid chaotic scenes near GHF's sites, mostly by Israeli fire, according to the UN.

Israeli authorities stated its troops fired cautionary rounds.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on the beginning of the week that it was winding down operations now because of the "effective conclusion of its humanitarian effort", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units delivered to Palestinians.

The GHF's executive director, Jon Acree, further mentioned the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been created to help implement US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - would be "taking over and developing the approach the organization demonstrated".

"GHF's model, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, was significantly influential in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and achieving a ceasefire."

Comments and Positions

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the GHF, based on information.

A spokesman for said the foundation should be subject to scrutiny for the negative impact it created to local residents.

"We request all worldwide humanitarian bodies to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of thousands of Gazans and covering up the starvation policy practised by the Israeli government."

Foundation History

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on 26 May, a short period subsequent to the Israeli government had moderately reduced a complete restriction on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that continued for 77 days and caused severe shortages 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.

Relief Agency Issues

International organizations and their affiliates claimed the system breached the basic relief guidelines of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that channelling desperate people into militarised zones was inherently unsafe.

The UN's human rights office stated it documented the killing of at least 859 Palestinians trying to acquire sustenance in the area surrounding organization centers between 26 May and 31 July.

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

The majority of these individuals were fatally wounded by the Israel's armed forces, according to the office.

Contrasting Reports

Israeli defense forces stated its forces had released alerting fire at people who approached them in a "menacing" manner.

The GHF said there were no shootings at the aid sites and claimed the international organization of using "untrue and confusing" data from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been unclear since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a truce agreement to carry out the primary segment of the American administration's peace initiative.

It said humanitarian assistance would take place "without interference from the both sides through the United Nations and its agencies, and the international relief society, in conjunction with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with Hamas and Israel.

International organization official the UN spokesman declared this week that the organization's termination would have "zero effect" on its work "because we never worked with them".

He also said that while increased relief was entering the region since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "insufficient to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.