Debated US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Relief Activities

Aid work in Gaza
This organization had halted its relief locations in Gaza after the ceasefire was implemented last month

The controversial, American and Israeli-supported GHF aid organization says it is terminating its aid operations in the Palestinian territory, following nearly half a year.

The foundation had earlier paused its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel came into force in recent weeks.

The GHF aimed to circumvent United Nations channels as the main supplier of relief to Palestinian residents.

UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its system, saying it was improper and dangerous.

Hundreds of Palestinians were fatally wounded while trying to acquire nourishment amid chaotic scenes near the organization's distribution points, mainly through Israeli military action, according to the UN.

Israel said its troops fired warning shots.

Program Termination

The GHF said on recently that it was terminating work now because of the "effective conclusion of its emergency mission", with a total of three million packages containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units delivered to Palestinians.

The organization's top administrator, the executive director, additionally stated the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been established to help carry out the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "taking over and developing the approach the organization demonstrated".

"The foundation's approach, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, had major impact in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."

Comments and Positions

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, as indicated by media.

A representative of stated GHF should be made responsible for the negative impact it created to Palestinians.

"We call upon all worldwide humanitarian bodies to ensure that it does not escape accountability after resulting in fatalities and harm of thousands of Gazans and covering up the starvation policy implemented by the Israeli government."

Organization Timeline

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on 26 May, a seven days following 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.

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

The organization's sustenance provision locations in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by American private security firms and situated within areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Humanitarian Concerns

International organizations and their affiliates stated the system contravened the basic relief guidelines of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that guiding distressed residents into military-controlled areas was fundamentally dangerous.

The UN's human rights office 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.

Another 514 people were fatally wounded around the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it further stated.

Most of them were killed by the Israeli forces, according to the office.

Conflicting Accounts

Israel's armed services stated its troops had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" fashion.

The foundation stated there were no shooting events at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "inaccurate and deceptive" data from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Ongoing Situation

The GHF's future had been indefinite since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a halt in hostilities arrangement to carry out the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

It said aid distribution would take place "absent meddling from the both sides through the UN organizations and their partners, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other global organizations not connected in any way" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

United Nations representative the UN spokesman declared this week that the foundation's closure would have "no impact" on its activities "since we never collaborated with them".

He also said that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "not enough to meet all the needs" of the over two million inhabitants.

Ashley Morris
Ashley Morris

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