Controversial United States-funded GHF Aid Organization Ends Humanitarian Work
The debated, US and Israel-backed Gaza relief foundation declares it is winding down its humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory, after almost six months.
The organisation had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel took effect in recent weeks.
The organization attempted to circumvent United Nations channels as the primary provider of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.
United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups would not collaborate with its approach, saying it was improper and dangerous.
Numerous Gazans were killed while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near the foundation's locations, mostly by Israeli fire, as reported by United Nations.
Israel said its soldiers fired cautionary rounds.
Mission Completion
The foundation announced on recently that it was terminating work now because of the "effective conclusion of its humanitarian effort", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions provided to residents.
The foundation's chief officer, the foundation leader, further mentioned the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been set up to help implement US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan - 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, was significantly influential in getting Hamas to the table and securing a halt in hostilities."
Feedback and Statements
The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - approved the termination of the GHF, according to reports.
A spokesman for said the foundation should be made responsible for the negative impact it created to Palestinians.
"We request all global human rights groups to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of thousands of Gazans and covering up the food deprivation strategy practised by the Israel's administration."
Organization Timeline
The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a short period subsequent to the Israeli government had moderately reduced a comprehensive closure on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of necessary provisions.
Subsequently, a famine was declared in Gaza City.
The GHF's food distribution sites in southern and central Gaza were operated by United States-based protection companies and positioned in regions under Israeli military authority.
Humanitarian Concerns
The UN and its partners claimed the methodology violated the core assistance standards of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that guiding distressed residents into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.
United Nations human rights division stated it documented the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents seeking food in the area surrounding organization centers between spring and summer months.
A further 514 persons were fatally wounded around the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it also mentioned.
Most of them were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, according to the office.
Contrasting Reports
Israel's armed services stated its soldiers had fired warning shots at persons who advanced toward them in a "menacing" manner.
The organization declared there were no firearm incidents at the aid sites and accused the UN of using "inaccurate and deceptive" data from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.
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 Trump's peace plan.
The agreement stated relief provision would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the international relief society, in conjunction with other global organizations not linked whatsoever" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.
United Nations representative the international body's communicator declared this week that the organization's termination would have "no influence" on its operations "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 residents.