Controversial American-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Aid Operations
The debated, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is concluding its humanitarian work in the affected area, following nearly half a year.
The foundation had earlier paused its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into force in recent weeks.
The GHF aimed to bypass the UN as the main supplier of aid to Gaza's population.
UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its approach, claiming it was improper and dangerous.
Hundreds of Palestinians were killed while attempting to obtain sustenance amid turbulent circumstances near GHF's sites, mainly through Israeli military action, based on UN documentation.
Israel said its troops fired cautionary rounds.
Mission Completion
The foundation announced on recently that it was winding down operations now because of the "successful completion of its humanitarian effort", with a total of three million packages containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions delivered to Palestinians.
The GHF's executive director, the foundation leader, also said the United States-operated coordination body - which has been created to help carry out the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "implementing and enlarging the model GHF piloted".
"GHF's model, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, played a huge role in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and establishing a truce."
Feedback and Statements
The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - welcomed the closure of the humanitarian foundation, based on information.
A representative of declared GHF should be held accountable for the harm it caused to Gazans.
"We urge all global human rights groups to make certain that consequences are faced after resulting in fatalities and harm of numerous Palestinians and concealing the food deprivation strategy practised by the Israel's administration."
Operational Background
The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a week after Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a comprehensive closure on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that continued for 77 days and led to substantial deficiencies of necessary provisions.
After 90 days, a nutritional emergency was proclaimed in the Palestinian urban center.
The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were managed by United States-based protection companies and located inside areas controlled by Israeli forces.
Relief Agency Issues
The UN and its partners said the system violated the basic relief guidelines of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that channelling desperate people into militarised zones was inherently unsafe.
International human rights monitoring body reported it tracked the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents trying to acquire sustenance in the vicinity of GHF sites between 26 May and 31 July.
An additional 514 individuals were fatally wounded around the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it also mentioned.
Most of them were killed by the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.
Conflicting Accounts
The Israeli military stated its troops had released alerting fire at people who approached them in a "menacing" way.
The foundation stated there were no firearm incidents at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "inaccurate and deceptive" figures from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.
Subsequent Developments
The organization's continuation had been indefinite since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a truce agreement to execute the primary segment of the American administration's peace initiative.
The arrangement specified relief provision would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the international relief society, in addition to other global organizations not connected in any way" with militant groups and the Israeli government.
UN spokesperson the international body's communicator stated recently that the foundation's closure would have "no impact" on its operations "as we never partnered with them".
The official further mentioned that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.