🔗 Share this article

The debated, United States and Israel-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is terminating its humanitarian work in the affected area, following nearly half a year.

The organisation had already suspended its several relief locations in Gaza following the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented in recent weeks.

The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the chief distributor of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

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

Many residents were killed while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near GHF's sites, mostly by Israeli fire, based on UN documentation.

Israel said its troops fired cautionary rounds.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on recently that it was winding down operations now because of the "successful completion of its emergency mission", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions distributed to Gazans.

The foundation's chief officer, the executive director, further mentioned the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been set up to help implement the United States' Palestinian peace proposal - would be "taking over and developing the system the foundation tested".

"The organization's system, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, was significantly influential in convincing militant groups to participate and achieving a ceasefire."

Feedback and Statements

The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - approved the termination of the GHF, as indicated by media.

An official from said GHF should be subject to scrutiny for the damage it inflicted to Palestinians.

"We call upon all global human rights groups to make certain that consequences are faced after resulting in fatalities and harm of many residents and obscuring the nutritional restriction approach employed by the Israel's administration."

Organization Timeline

The foundation started work in Gaza on May 26th, a seven days following the Israeli government had moderately reduced a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and resulted in critical deficits 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 located inside regions under Israeli military authority.

Relief Agency Issues

United Nations agencies and their collaborators claimed the methodology breached the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that directing needy individuals into military-controlled areas was inherently unsafe.

The UN's human rights office stated it documented the killing of at least 859 Palestinians attempting to obtain nourishment in the vicinity of GHF sites between spring and summer months.

Another 514 people were killed near the paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it added.

The greater part of these people were lost their lives due to the Israeli forces, based on the agency's reports.

Divergent Narratives

Israeli defense forces claimed its troops had discharged cautionary rounds at individuals who came near them in a "threatening" fashion.

The organization declared there were no firearm incidents at the aid sites and accused the UN of using "untrue and confusing" statistics from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Ongoing Situation

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 relief provision would take place "free from intervention from the both sides through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the organization's termination would have "zero effect" on its operations "since we never collaborated with them".

The spokesperson additionally stated that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "insufficient to satisfy all requirements" of the over two million inhabitants.