Controversial United States-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Terminates Relief Activities
The disputed, United States and Israel-funded GHF aid organization announces it is terminating its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, following nearly half a year.
The foundation had previously halted its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza after the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel took effect six weeks ago.
The foundation sought to circumvent United Nations channels as the chief distributor of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.
International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its system, saying it was questionable and hazardous.
Numerous Gazans were killed while attempting to obtain sustenance amid disorderly situations near the organization's distribution points, mostly by Israeli fire, as reported by United Nations.
The Israeli military claimed its forces fired alerting fire.
Mission Completion
The GHF said on the beginning of the week that it was winding down operations now because of the "effective conclusion of its humanitarian effort", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals provided to residents.
The organization's top administrator, the foundation leader, further mentioned the United States-operated coordination body - which has been established to help carry out the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the approach the organization demonstrated".
"GHF's model, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, played a huge role in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."
Comments and Positions
Hamas - which denies stealing aid - supported the shutdown of the humanitarian foundation, based on information.
An official from said GHF should be held accountable for the negative impact it created to Gazans.
"We urge all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after leading to casualties and wounds of many residents and obscuring the nutritional restriction approach practised by the Israeli government."
Operational Background
The foundation started work in Gaza on May 26th, a short period subsequent to Israel had partially eased a complete restriction on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that continued for 77 days and led to substantial deficiencies of necessary provisions.
Subsequently, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.
The GHF's food distribution sites in southern and central Gaza were operated by American private security firms and positioned in regions under Israeli military authority.
Aid Organization Objections
International organizations and their affiliates stated the methodology violated the basic relief guidelines of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that directing needy individuals into armed forces regions was fundamentally dangerous.
United Nations human rights division reported it tracked the killing of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food in the proximity to foundation locations between 26 May and 31 July.
An additional 514 individuals were killed near the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it added.
The greater part of these people were lost their lives due to the Israeli military, based on the agency's reports.
Contrasting Reports
Israeli defense forces claimed its troops had fired warning shots at people who approached them in a "intimidating" fashion.
The organization declared there were no shooting events at the aid sites and claimed the international organization of using "untrue and confusing" figures from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
Future Implications
The GHF's future had been uncertain since Hamas and Israel agreed a truce agreement to execute the initial stage of the United States' reconciliation proposal.
The agreement stated humanitarian assistance would take place "without interference from the both sides through the UN organizations and their partners, and the Red Crescent, in conjunction with other worldwide bodies not linked whatsoever" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.
UN spokesperson the international body's communicator said on Monday that the organization's termination would have "no impact" on its work "as we never partnered with them".
He also said that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the truce was implemented on 10 October, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.