Controversial United States-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Humanitarian Work
The controversial, US and Israel-backed GHF aid organization says it is winding down its humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory, subsequent to approximately 180 days.
The group had previously halted its several relief locations in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.
The GHF aimed to bypass the UN as the main supplier of relief to Palestinian residents.
International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its system, saying it was improper and dangerous.
Hundreds of Palestinians were lost their lives while seeking food amid turbulent circumstances near the foundation's locations, mainly through Israeli military action, as reported by United Nations.
Israel said its soldiers fired cautionary rounds.
Program Termination
The GHF said on the beginning of the week that it was terminating work now because of the "successful completion of its emergency mission", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units distributed to Gazans.
The organization's top administrator, the executive director, also said the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - 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 Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, was significantly influential in convincing militant groups to participate and establishing a truce."
Reactions and Responses
The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, based on information.
An official from said the foundation should be made responsible for the harm it caused to Gazans.
"We call upon all global human rights groups to make certain that consequences are faced after resulting in fatalities and harm of many residents and covering up the nutritional restriction approach practised by the Israeli authorities."
Foundation History
The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a week after Israel had partially eased a total blockade on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and resulted in critical deficits of essential supplies.
Subsequently, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.
The GHF's food distribution sites in various parts of the Palestinian territory were operated by US private security contractors and situated within Israeli military zones.
Humanitarian Concerns
International organizations and their affiliates stated the system breached the core assistance standards of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that channelling desperate people into military-controlled areas was inherently unsafe.
The UN's human rights office stated it documented the killing of at least 859 Palestinians trying to acquire sustenance in the area surrounding organization centers between 26 May and 31 July.
An additional 514 individuals were lost their lives close to the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it further stated.
Most of them were killed by the Israeli military, according to the office.
Conflicting Accounts
Israel's armed services claimed its soldiers had fired warning shots at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" manner.
The GHF said there were no shooting events at the relief locations and accused the UN of using "false and misleading" data from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.
Ongoing Situation
The foundation's prospects had been unclear since Hamas and Israel agreed a truce agreement to execute the first phase of the American administration's peace initiative.
The agreement stated humanitarian assistance would take place "free from intervention from the involved factions through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the humanitarian medical organization, in conjunction with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with Hamas and Israel.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the GHF's shutdown would have "no impact" on its work "since we never collaborated with them".
The spokesperson additionally stated that while increased relief was entering the region since the truce was implemented on 10 October, it was "insufficient to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.