🔗 Share this article

The controversial, American and Israeli-supported GHF aid organization announces it is concluding its humanitarian work in the Gaza region, after almost six months.

The foundation had previously halted its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was implemented in recent weeks.

The GHF aimed to circumvent United Nations channels as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

International relief agencies declined to participate with its system, saying it was unethical and unsafe.

Many residents were killed while seeking food amid disorderly situations near the organization's distribution points, mostly by Israeli fire, based on UN documentation.

Israeli authorities stated its troops fired alerting fire.

Program Termination

The foundation announced on the beginning of the week that it was terminating work now because of the "successful completion of its humanitarian effort", 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, further mentioned the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been established 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 Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, had major impact in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and establishing a truce."

Reactions and Responses

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, as indicated by media.

An official from declared GHF should be made responsible for the negative impact it created to Gazans.

"We request all international human rights organisations to make certain that consequences are faced after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and covering up the food deprivation strategy implemented by the Israeli authorities."

Foundation History

The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a week after the Israeli government had moderately reduced a comprehensive closure on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that continued for 77 days and led to substantial deficiencies of essential supplies.

Three months later, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in various parts of the Palestinian territory were operated by US private security contractors and located inside Israeli military zones.

Aid Organization Objections

International organizations and their affiliates stated the approach breached the fundamental humanitarian principles of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that directing needy individuals into armed forces regions was intrinsically hazardous.

United Nations human rights division reported it tracked the killing of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food in the area surrounding organization centers between late May through end of July.

A further 514 persons were fatally wounded around the paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it added.

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

Conflicting Accounts

The Israeli military stated its troops had discharged cautionary rounds at persons who advanced toward them in a "menacing" way.

The GHF said there were no firearm incidents at the relief locations and claimed the international organization of using "false and misleading" statistics from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Future Implications

The organization's continuation had been uncertain since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a ceasefire deal to implement the first phase of the American administration's peace initiative.

It said aid distribution would take place "without interference from the two parties through the UN organizations and their partners, and the international relief society, in addition to other global organizations not associated in any manner" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

International organization official the UN spokesman declared this week that the GHF's shutdown would have "no impact" on its activities "as we never partnered with them".

He also said that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "not enough to satisfy all requirements" of the 2.1 million population.