🔗 Share this article

The disputed, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is terminating its humanitarian work in the Gaza region, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

The foundation had previously halted its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel took effect six weeks ago.

The organization attempted to circumvent United Nations channels as the main supplier of aid to Gaza's population.

UN and other aid agencies refused to co-operate with its system, claiming it was unethical and unsafe.

Many residents were killed while trying to acquire nourishment amid turbulent circumstances near GHF's sites, mainly through Israeli military action, as reported by United Nations.

Israel said its forces fired warning shots.

Mission Completion

The GHF said on recently that it was winding down operations now because of the "effective conclusion of its crisis response", with a total of three million packages containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals distributed to Gazans.

The organization's top administrator, Jon Acree, additionally stated the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been established 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 Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, played a huge role in convincing militant groups to participate and establishing a truce."

Reactions and Responses

The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - approved the termination of the GHF, based on information.

A representative of declared the foundation should be subject to scrutiny for the negative impact it created to Gazans.

"We request all global human rights groups to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of numerous Palestinians and covering up the nutritional restriction approach practised by the Israeli government."

Organization Timeline

The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a short period subsequent to the Israeli government had moderately reduced a total blockade on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and caused severe shortages of vital resources.

Subsequently, a food crisis was announced in the Gaza metropolitan area.

The GHF's food distribution sites in southern and central Gaza were managed by US private security contractors and positioned in Israeli military zones.

Relief Agency Issues

International organizations and their affiliates stated the approach breached the core assistance standards of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that guiding distressed residents into armed forces regions was inherently unsafe.

The UN's human rights office stated it documented the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites 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 also mentioned.

The greater part of these people were fatally wounded by the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.

Contrasting Reports

The Israeli military said its troops had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "threatening" manner.

The GHF said there were no firearm incidents at the distribution centers and claimed the international organization of using "false and misleading" figures from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been indefinite since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a halt in hostilities arrangement to execute the initial stage of Trump's peace plan.

The arrangement specified aid distribution would take place "without interference from the both sides through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other global organizations not linked whatsoever" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

United Nations representative the UN spokesman said on Monday that the foundation's closure would have "zero effect" on its activities "because we never worked with them".

The official further mentioned that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "not enough to meet all the needs" of the over two million inhabitants.