🔗 Share this article

The debated, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is terminating its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, subsequent to approximately 180 days.

The group had previously halted its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect recently.

The organization attempted to avoid UN systems as the primary provider of relief to Palestinian residents.

International relief agencies would not collaborate with its approach, claiming it was improper and dangerous.

Hundreds of Palestinians were fatally wounded while seeking food amid disorderly situations near the organization's distribution points, primarily from Israeli forces, based on UN documentation.

The Israeli military claimed its forces fired alerting fire.

Operation Conclusion

The foundation announced on the beginning of the week that it was terminating work now because of the "effective conclusion 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 GHF's executive director, Jon Acree, also said the United States-operated coordination body - which has been established to help execute the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "taking over and developing the model GHF piloted".

"GHF's model, in which Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, had major impact in convincing militant groups to participate and establishing a truce."

Reactions and Responses

The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - supported the shutdown of the humanitarian foundation, according to reports.

A spokesman for said GHF should be held accountable for the negative impact it created to Gazans.

"We call upon all worldwide humanitarian bodies to make certain that consequences are faced after causing the death and injury of many residents and obscuring the starvation policy employed by the Israeli authorities."

Foundation History

The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a seven days following Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a total blockade on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of essential supplies.

After 90 days, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were managed by United States-based protection companies and positioned in regions under Israeli military authority.

Humanitarian Concerns

The UN and its partners claimed the approach breached the core assistance standards of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that channelling desperate people into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.

International human rights monitoring body stated it documented the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents trying to acquire sustenance in the area surrounding organization centers between 26 May and 31 July.

Another 514 people 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 forces, based on the agency's reports.

Contrasting Reports

Israel's armed services claimed its troops had released alerting fire at people who approached them in a "intimidating" way.

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

Future Implications

The GHF's future had been indefinite since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a halt in hostilities arrangement to carry out the initial stage of Trump's peace plan.

The arrangement specified humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the UN organizations and their partners, and the international relief society, in combination with other worldwide bodies not associated in any manner" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

United Nations representative the international body's communicator stated recently that the organization's termination would have "no influence" on its work "since we never collaborated with them".

He also said that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the truce was implemented on October 10th, it was "not enough to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million population.