Controversial United States-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Concludes Aid Operations

Aid activities in the region
The GHF had suspended its relief locations in Gaza following the truce came into force last month

The disputed, American and Israeli-supported GHF aid organization says it is winding down its humanitarian work in the Gaza region, following nearly half a year.

The group had previously halted its several relief locations in Gaza following the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel was implemented in recent weeks.

The foundation sought to bypass the UN as the chief distributor of relief to Palestinian residents.

United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups would not collaborate with its methodology, saying it was unethical and unsafe.

Many residents were fatally wounded while attempting to obtain sustenance amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, mainly through Israeli military action, based on UN documentation.

Israeli authorities stated its troops fired warning shots.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on recently that it was terminating work now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its crisis response", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions provided to residents.

The foundation's chief officer, the foundation leader, further mentioned the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been set up to help implement the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted".

"The organization's system, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, had major impact in convincing militant groups to participate and securing a halt in hostilities."

Feedback and Statements

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - supported the shutdown of the humanitarian foundation, as indicated by media.

A spokesman for said the foundation should be subject to scrutiny for the negative impact it created to local residents.

"We request all worldwide humanitarian bodies to ensure that it does not escape accountability after leading to casualties and wounds of many residents and covering up the food deprivation strategy employed by the Israeli government."

Operational Background

The foundation started work in Gaza on late May, a week after Israel had partially eased a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of essential supplies.

Subsequently, a famine was declared in the Gaza metropolitan area.

The organization's sustenance provision locations in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by US private security contractors and positioned in Israeli military zones.

Humanitarian Concerns

The UN and its partners said the approach breached the basic relief guidelines of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that guiding distressed residents into military-controlled areas was intrinsically hazardous.

The UN's human rights office said it recorded the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents trying to acquire sustenance in the area surrounding organization centers between spring and summer months.

A further 514 persons were lost their lives close to the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it also mentioned.

Most of them were lost their lives due to the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.

Divergent Narratives

The Israeli military claimed its forces had fired warning shots at persons who advanced toward them in a "menacing" fashion.

The GHF said there were no shooting events at the relief locations and alleged that United Nations of using "inaccurate and deceptive" statistics from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been unclear since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a truce agreement to implement the primary segment of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

It said aid distribution would take place "without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the humanitarian medical organization, in conjunction with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

United Nations representative the international body's communicator stated recently that the GHF's shutdown would have "no impact" on its work "as we never partnered with them".

He also said that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the ceasefire took effect on October 10th, it was "not enough to satisfy all requirements" of the over two million inhabitants.

Michele Castillo
Michele Castillo

A seasoned product reviewer with over a decade of experience in testing and analyzing consumer goods for reliability and value.