🔗 Share this article

The disputed, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is terminating its aid operations in the Gaza region, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

The organisation had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel was implemented in recent weeks.

The GHF aimed to bypass the UN as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its system, stating it was unethical and unsafe.

Many residents were killed while seeking food amid turbulent circumstances near the foundation's locations, mostly by Israeli fire, as reported by United Nations.

The Israeli military claimed its troops fired alerting fire.

Program Termination

The GHF said on recently that it was concluding activities now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its humanitarian effort", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions provided to residents.

The GHF's executive director, the foundation leader, further mentioned the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been created to help carry out 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, was significantly influential in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."

Reactions and Responses

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - supported the shutdown of the aid organization, according to reports.

An official from said the organization should be subject to scrutiny for the harm it caused to local residents.

"We urge all worldwide humanitarian bodies to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after resulting in fatalities and harm of thousands of Gazans and covering up the food deprivation strategy employed by the Israeli authorities."

Operational Background

The GHF began operations in Gaza on 26 May, a seven days following Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that continued for 77 days and resulted in critical deficits of vital resources.

After 90 days, a food crisis was announced in the Palestinian urban center.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in various parts of the Palestinian territory were operated by United States-based protection companies and situated within regions under Israeli military authority.

Aid Organization Objections

United Nations agencies and their collaborators stated the system breached the fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that guiding distressed residents into military-controlled areas was fundamentally dangerous.

United Nations human rights division said it recorded the killing of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites between spring and summer months.

An additional 514 individuals were lost their lives close to the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it also mentioned.

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

Contrasting Reports

Israel's armed services said its troops had fired warning shots at people who approached them in a "threatening" manner.

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

Future Implications

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

It said humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the both sides through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the humanitarian medical organization, in conjunction with other worldwide bodies not connected in any way" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

International organization official the UN spokesman declared this week that the organization's termination would have "zero effect" on its activities "since we never collaborated with them".

The official further mentioned that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the truce was implemented on 10 October, it was "not enough to meet all the needs" of the 2.1 million residents.