🔗 Share this article

The controversial, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is terminating its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

The group had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.

The GHF aimed to bypass the UN as the main supplier of aid to Gaza's population.

International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its methodology, stating it was questionable and hazardous.

Many residents were killed while trying to acquire nourishment amid disorderly situations near the foundation's locations, mostly by Israeli fire, as reported by United Nations.

Israel said its troops fired cautionary rounds.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on Monday that it was winding down operations now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its emergency mission", 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, the foundation leader, additionally stated the United States-operated coordination body - which has been created to help carry out US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - would be "adopting and expanding the approach the organization demonstrated".

"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 achieving a ceasefire."

Feedback and Statements

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - supported the shutdown of the GHF, according to reports.

A spokesman for said the foundation should be made responsible for the harm it caused to Gazans.

"We call upon all worldwide humanitarian bodies to ensure that it does not escape accountability after resulting in fatalities and harm of thousands of Gazans and concealing the nutritional restriction approach practised by the Israeli authorities."

Operational Background

The GHF began operations in Gaza on 26 May, a short period subsequent to Israel had partially eased a complete restriction on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of necessary provisions.

After 90 days, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.

The GHF's food distribution sites in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were administered by United States-based protection companies and situated within Israeli military zones.

Aid Organization Objections

The UN and its partners said the methodology violated the fundamental humanitarian principles of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that channelling desperate people into military-controlled areas was inherently unsafe.

United Nations human rights division said it recorded the killing of at least 859 Palestinians trying to acquire sustenance in the proximity to foundation locations between 26 May and 31 July.

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

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

Conflicting Accounts

Israeli defense forces stated its troops had discharged cautionary rounds at persons who advanced toward them in a "threatening" manner.

The organization declared there were no shooting events at the distribution centers and accused the UN of using "untrue and confusing" figures from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Subsequent Developments

The foundation's prospects had been uncertain since Hamas and Israel agreed a truce agreement to carry out the initial stage of the American administration's peace initiative.

The arrangement specified aid distribution would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the UN organizations and their partners, and the humanitarian medical organization, in addition to other international institutions not connected in any way" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

United Nations representative the UN spokesman declared this week that the GHF's shutdown would have "no influence" on its work "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 "not enough to satisfy all requirements" of the 2.1 million population.