🔗 Share this article

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

The group had earlier paused its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza after the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel took effect six weeks ago.

The foundation sought to bypass the UN as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

UN and other aid agencies refused to co-operate with its methodology, stating it was improper and dangerous.

Hundreds of Palestinians were lost their lives while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near the foundation's locations, mostly by Israeli fire, according to the UN.

Israeli authorities stated its troops fired cautionary rounds.

Program Termination

The GHF said on Monday that it was concluding activities now because of the "effective conclusion of its crisis response", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals provided to residents.

The GHF's executive director, the foundation leader, also said the United States-operated coordination body - which has been created to help carry out US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - would be "taking over and developing the system the foundation tested".

"GHF's model, in which Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, had major impact in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire."

Comments and Positions

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

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

"We urge all worldwide humanitarian bodies to make certain that consequences are faced after causing the death and injury of numerous Palestinians and obscuring the starvation policy practised by the Israeli government."

Organization Timeline

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on 26 May, a short period subsequent to Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a comprehensive closure on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that continued for 77 days and caused severe shortages of vital resources.

After 90 days, a nutritional emergency was proclaimed in the Palestinian urban center.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by US private security contractors and situated within regions under Israeli military authority.

Aid Organization Objections

United Nations agencies and their collaborators claimed the system contravened the basic relief guidelines of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that channelling desperate people into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.

United Nations human rights division said it recorded the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans seeking food in the area surrounding organization centers between spring and summer months.

An additional 514 individuals were lost their lives close to the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it further stated.

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

Divergent Narratives

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

The organization declared there were no firearm incidents at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "inaccurate and deceptive" figures from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Ongoing Situation

The organization's continuation had been uncertain since Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire deal to execute the initial stage of the American administration's peace initiative.

The agreement stated humanitarian assistance would take place "free from intervention from the two parties through the UN organizations and their partners, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other worldwide bodies not linked whatsoever" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

UN spokesperson the international body's communicator declared this week that the GHF's shutdown would have "zero effect" on its operations "as we never partnered with them".

He also said that while increased relief was entering the region since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "inadequate to meet all the needs" of the 2.1 million residents.