🔗 Share this article

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

The group had earlier paused its several relief locations in Gaza following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect recently.

The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the main supplier of aid to Gaza's population.

UN and other aid agencies declined to participate with its approach, stating it was improper and dangerous.

Numerous Gazans were killed while attempting to obtain sustenance amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, mostly by Israeli fire, based on UN documentation.

The Israeli military claimed its forces fired cautionary rounds.

Program Termination

The organization declared on Monday that it was terminating work now because of the "effective conclusion of its humanitarian effort", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals provided to residents.

The foundation's chief officer, Jon Acree, further mentioned the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been created to help implement the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted".

"The foundation's approach, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, played a huge role in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and establishing a truce."

Comments and Positions

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

A spokesman for declared the foundation should be subject to scrutiny for the harm it caused to local residents.

"We urge all global human rights groups to ensure that it does not escape accountability after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and obscuring the nutritional restriction approach practised by the Israeli authorities."

Operational Background

The foundation started work in Gaza on May 26th, a short period subsequent to Israel had partially eased a total blockade on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that continued for 77 days and led to substantial deficiencies of essential supplies.

Three months later, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by US private security contractors and situated within areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Relief Agency Issues

The UN and its partners stated the approach contravened the basic relief guidelines of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that directing needy individuals into militarised zones was intrinsically hazardous.

International human rights monitoring body reported it tracked the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans trying to acquire sustenance in the vicinity of GHF sites between late May through end of July.

Another 514 people were lost their lives close to the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it also mentioned.

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

Conflicting Accounts

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

The GHF said there were no shooting events at the distribution centers and claimed the international organization of using "untrue and confusing" statistics from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Future Implications

The foundation's prospects had been unclear since Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire deal to implement the initial stage of the American administration's peace initiative.

The arrangement specified humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the both sides through the UN organizations and their partners, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other worldwide bodies not connected in any way" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

International organization official Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the organization's termination would have "no influence" on its work "as we never partnered with them".

The official further mentioned that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October, it was "inadequate to meet all the needs" of the 2.1 million residents.