Controversial American-supported GHF Aid Organization Ends Aid Operations

Relief activities in the region
The foundation previously halted its food distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the ceasefire was implemented recently

The controversial, US and Israel-backed GHF aid organization says it is concluding its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, after almost six months.

The group had already suspended its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into force recently.

The organization attempted to circumvent United Nations channels as the chief distributor of aid to Gaza's population.

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

Numerous Gazans were killed while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near the foundation's locations, mainly through Israeli military action, as reported by United Nations.

Israel said its soldiers fired warning shots.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on Monday that it was terminating work now because of the "successful completion of its humanitarian effort", with a total of three million packages containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals distributed to Gazans.

The GHF's executive director, the foundation leader, also said the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been set up to help carry out US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - would be "adopting and expanding the approach the organization demonstrated".

"The organization's system, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, played a huge role in convincing militant groups to participate and securing a halt in hostilities."

Comments and Positions

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - welcomed the closure of the GHF, according to reports.

A representative of declared GHF should be made responsible for the damage it inflicted to Palestinians.

"We urge all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of many residents and concealing the starvation policy employed by the Israeli government."

Organization Timeline

The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a seven days following the Israeli government had moderately reduced a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that continued for 77 days and resulted in critical deficits of necessary provisions.

After 90 days, a famine was declared in Gaza City.

The organization's sustenance provision locations in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were managed by American private security firms and situated within areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Humanitarian Concerns

United Nations agencies and their collaborators stated the methodology contravened the core assistance standards of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that directing needy individuals into armed forces regions was inherently unsafe.

United Nations human rights division said it recorded the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans 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 paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it added.

The majority of these individuals were killed by the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.

Conflicting Accounts

Israel's armed services said its soldiers had discharged cautionary rounds at individuals who came near them in a "intimidating" manner.

The foundation stated there were no shooting events at the aid sites and claimed the international organization of using "false and misleading" statistics from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been unclear since Hamas and Israel agreed a halt in hostilities arrangement to execute the initial stage of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

The agreement stated aid distribution would take place "free from intervention from the both sides through the UN organizations and their partners, and the humanitarian medical organization, in conjunction with other international institutions not connected in any way" with Hamas and Israel.

United Nations representative the UN spokesman said on Monday that the foundation's closure would have "no impact" on its operations "because we never worked with them".

The spokesperson additionally stated that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the truce was implemented on 10 October, it was "not enough to address all necessities" of the over two million inhabitants.

Marilyn White
Marilyn White

Klara is a linguist and writer passionate about exploring the nuances of language and storytelling in modern literature.