Controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Concludes Relief Activities
The controversial, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is winding down its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, subsequent to approximately 180 days.
The group had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.
The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the main supplier of aid to Gaza's population.
UN and other aid agencies refused to co-operate with its methodology, saying it was unethical and unsafe.
Hundreds of Palestinians were fatally wounded while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near GHF's sites, primarily from Israeli forces, according to the UN.
Israeli authorities stated its soldiers fired alerting fire.
Operation Conclusion
The GHF said on the beginning of the week that it was terminating work now because of the "effective conclusion of its humanitarian effort", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions distributed to Gazans.
The organization's top administrator, the foundation leader, further mentioned the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been created to help implement US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - would be "adopting and expanding the approach the organization demonstrated".
"The organization's system, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, had major impact in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."
Reactions and Responses
The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - approved the termination of the humanitarian foundation, based on information.
A representative of stated GHF should be made responsible for the negative impact it created to Palestinians.
"We call upon all global human rights groups to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of many residents and covering up the nutritional restriction approach practised by the Israeli government."
Foundation History
The foundation started work in Gaza on late May, a week after Israel had partially eased a total blockade on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that continued for 77 days and caused severe shortages of necessary provisions.
Three months later, a food crisis was announced in the Gaza metropolitan area.
The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in various parts of the Palestinian territory were operated by US private security contractors and located inside regions under Israeli military authority.
Relief Agency Issues
International organizations and their affiliates stated the system violated the core assistance standards of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that directing needy individuals into military-controlled areas was intrinsically hazardous.
United Nations human rights division reported it tracked the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans attempting to obtain nourishment in the area surrounding organization centers between 26 May and 31 July.
An additional 514 individuals were fatally wounded around the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it further stated.
The majority of these individuals were fatally wounded by the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.
Divergent Narratives
Israel's armed services said its troops had fired warning shots at persons who advanced toward them in a "intimidating" manner.
The foundation stated there were no shooting events at the relief locations and claimed the international organization of using "untrue and confusing" figures from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.
Ongoing Situation
The organization's continuation had been unclear since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a halt in hostilities arrangement to carry out the initial stage of the United States' reconciliation proposal.
The arrangement specified humanitarian assistance would take place "free from intervention from the involved factions through the UN organizations and their partners, and the humanitarian medical organization, in addition to other worldwide bodies not linked whatsoever" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.
International organization official the UN spokesman stated recently that the foundation's closure would have "zero effect" on its work "because we never worked with them".
He also said that while increased relief was entering the region since the ceasefire took effect on early October, it was "insufficient to meet all the needs" of the over two million inhabitants.