🔗 Share this article

The controversial, US and Israel-backed GHF aid organization announces it is terminating its humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

The foundation had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel came into force six weeks ago.

The organization attempted to circumvent United Nations channels as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

UN and other aid agencies refused to co-operate with its system, saying it was questionable and hazardous.

Many residents were fatally wounded while attempting to obtain sustenance amid disorderly situations near GHF's sites, mostly by Israeli fire, as reported by United Nations.

Israeli authorities stated its soldiers fired warning shots.

Operation Conclusion

The foundation announced on recently that it was concluding activities now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its humanitarian effort", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals distributed to Gazans.

The foundation's chief officer, the foundation leader, additionally stated the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been set up to help execute the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "implementing and enlarging 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 convincing militant groups to participate and achieving a ceasefire."

Reactions and Responses

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

A spokesman for said the organization should be made responsible for the damage it inflicted to local residents.

"We call upon all worldwide humanitarian bodies to make certain that consequences are faced after causing the death and injury of numerous Palestinians and concealing the food deprivation strategy practised by the Israel's administration."

Operational Background

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on late May, a seven days following the Israeli government had moderately reduced a comprehensive closure on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that continued for 77 days and resulted in critical deficits of necessary provisions.

Subsequently, a famine was declared in the Palestinian urban center.

The organization's sustenance provision locations in southern and central Gaza were operated by American private security firms and positioned in regions under Israeli military authority.

Humanitarian Concerns

The UN and its partners stated the system breached the fundamental humanitarian principles of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that channelling desperate people into militarised zones was inherently unsafe.

The UN's human rights office said it recorded the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents trying to acquire sustenance in the area surrounding organization centers between late May through end of July.

An additional 514 individuals were lost their lives close to the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it also mentioned.

Most of them were killed by the Israeli military, as per the organization's documentation.

Divergent Narratives

Israeli defense forces claimed its forces had fired warning shots at persons who advanced toward them in a "menacing" way.

The organization declared there were no shootings at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "inaccurate and deceptive" figures from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.

Future Implications

The foundation's prospects had been unclear since Hamas and Israel agreed a truce agreement to implement the first phase of the American administration's peace initiative.

It said relief provision would take place "free from intervention from the involved factions through the United Nations and its agencies, and the humanitarian medical organization, in combination with other global organizations not connected in any way" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

International organization official the UN spokesman stated recently that the foundation's closure would have "no influence" on its activities "because we never worked with them".

He also said that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the ceasefire took effect on October 10th, it was "insufficient to satisfy all requirements" of the 2.1 million residents.