Controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Humanitarian Work

The debated, US and Israel-backed Gaza relief foundation says it is terminating its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

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

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

UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its methodology, claiming it was questionable and hazardous.

Many residents were fatally wounded while trying to acquire nourishment amid chaotic scenes near GHF's sites, mainly through Israeli military action, according to the UN.

Israel said its forces fired warning shots.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on the beginning of the week that it was winding down operations now because of the "successful completion of its crisis response", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions distributed to Gazans.

The organization's top administrator, the executive director, also said the United States-operated coordination body - which has been created to help execute US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - would be "taking over and developing the model GHF piloted".

"The organization's system, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, played a huge role in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and achieving a ceasefire."

Reactions and Responses

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, based on information.

A representative of stated the organization should be held accountable for the negative impact it created to Palestinians.

"We call upon all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and covering up the starvation policy practised by the Israeli authorities."

Organization Timeline

The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a short period subsequent to Israel had partially eased a complete restriction on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and resulted in critical deficits of vital resources.

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

The GHF's food distribution sites in southern and central Gaza were administered by American private security firms and located inside regions under Israeli military authority.

Relief Agency Issues

The UN and its partners stated the system breached the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that channelling desperate people into armed forces regions was intrinsically hazardous.

United Nations human rights division reported it tracked the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites between late May through end of July.

A further 514 persons were lost their lives close to the paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it added.

The majority of these individuals were lost their lives due to the Israeli forces, according to the office.

Contrasting Reports

Israeli defense forces claimed its troops had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" fashion.

The foundation stated there were no firearm incidents at the distribution centers and accused the UN of using "untrue and confusing" figures from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.

Future Implications

The GHF's future had been unclear since Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire deal to carry out the initial stage of the American administration's peace initiative.

It said relief provision would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the humanitarian medical organization, in conjunction with other international institutions not connected in any way" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the GHF's shutdown would have "no impact" on its operations "because we never worked with them".

The spokesperson additionally stated that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on early October, it was "insufficient to satisfy all requirements" of the 2.1 million population.