Controversial United States-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Concludes Relief Activities

The disputed, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is terminating its aid operations in the Gaza region, after almost six months.

The group had previously halted its several relief locations in Gaza following the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented recently.

The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the primary provider of aid to Gaza's population.

International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its approach, stating it was improper and dangerous.

Many residents were killed while attempting to obtain sustenance amid disorderly situations near GHF's sites, mainly through Israeli military action, based on UN documentation.

Israel said its troops fired cautionary rounds.

Mission Completion

The GHF said on Monday that it was terminating work now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its crisis response", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units delivered to Palestinians.

The foundation's chief officer, Jon Acree, further mentioned the United States-operated coordination body - which has been created to help execute the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "taking over and developing the approach the organization demonstrated".

"GHF's model, in which Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, was significantly influential in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."

Comments and Positions

The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - approved the termination of the aid organization, according to reports.

An official from stated GHF should be subject to scrutiny for the negative impact it created to local residents.

"We request all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after resulting in fatalities and harm of numerous Palestinians and covering up the food deprivation strategy practised by the Israeli authorities."

Operational Background

The GHF began operations in Gaza on May 26th, a short period subsequent to the Israeli government had moderately reduced a complete restriction on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of essential supplies.

After 90 days, a famine was declared in the Gaza metropolitan area.

The organization's sustenance provision locations in southern and central Gaza were administered by American private security firms and positioned in areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Aid Organization Objections

The UN and its partners stated the system violated the fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that directing needy individuals into armed forces regions was fundamentally dangerous.

The UN's human rights office said it recorded the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans attempting to obtain nourishment in the area surrounding organization centers between 26 May and 31 July.

Another 514 people were fatally wounded around the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it added.

Most of them were killed by the Israel's armed forces, based on the agency's reports.

Conflicting Accounts

Israel's armed services said its soldiers had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "threatening" manner.

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

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been indefinite since Hamas and Israel agreed a halt in hostilities arrangement to carry out the initial stage of the American administration's peace initiative.

It said relief provision would take place "absent meddling from the involved factions through the UN organizations and their partners, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other global organizations not linked whatsoever" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

United Nations representative Stephane Dujarric stated recently that the foundation's closure would have "no impact" on its operations "since we never collaborated with them".

The official further mentioned that while increased relief was entering the region since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.