🔗 Share this article

The debated, United States and Israel-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is concluding its relief activities in the affected area, after almost six months.

The organisation had previously halted its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect recently.

The organization attempted to bypass the UN as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its approach, saying it was unethical and unsafe.

Numerous Gazans were lost their lives while seeking food amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, primarily from Israeli forces, as reported by United Nations.

Israel said its soldiers fired cautionary rounds.

Operation Conclusion

The foundation announced on recently that it was terminating work now because of the "effective conclusion of its emergency mission", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions distributed to Gazans.

The foundation's chief officer, the foundation leader, also said the United States-operated coordination body - which has been established to help carry out the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted".

"The foundation's approach, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, was significantly influential in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and achieving a ceasefire."

Feedback and Statements

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, based on information.

An official from said GHF should be subject to scrutiny for the damage it inflicted to local residents.

"We call upon all global human rights groups to make certain that consequences are faced after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and obscuring the starvation policy practised by the Israeli authorities."

Operational Background

The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a week after Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a comprehensive closure on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that continued for 77 days and resulted in critical deficits of necessary provisions.

Subsequently, a nutritional emergency was proclaimed in the Gaza metropolitan area.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were managed by US private security contractors and situated within areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Humanitarian Concerns

International organizations and their affiliates stated the approach contravened the core assistance standards of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that guiding distressed residents into militarised zones was intrinsically hazardous.

International human rights monitoring body said it recorded the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites between 26 May and 31 July.

A further 514 persons were killed near the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it also mentioned.

The majority of these individuals were lost their lives due to the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.

Divergent Narratives

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

The organization declared there were no shooting events at the relief locations and claimed the international organization of using "untrue and confusing" statistics from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Future Implications

The foundation's prospects had been uncertain since Hamas and Israel agreed a truce agreement to carry out the primary segment of Trump's peace plan.

It said humanitarian assistance would take place "without interference from the both sides through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the international relief society, in combination with other global organizations not linked whatsoever" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

International organization official the UN spokesman said on Monday that the organization's termination would have "zero effect" on its work "as we never partnered with them".

The official further mentioned that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the halt in hostilities began on 10 October, it was "inadequate to satisfy all requirements" of the over two million inhabitants.