Controversial US-backed GHF Aid Organization Concludes Humanitarian Work
The debated, United States and Israel-funded GHF aid organization announces it is concluding its humanitarian work in the Gaza region, following nearly half a year.
The group had earlier paused its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into force six weeks ago.
The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.
UN and other aid agencies declined to participate with its system, saying it was improper and dangerous.
Many residents were fatally wounded while seeking food amid turbulent circumstances near GHF's sites, mostly by Israeli fire, as reported by United Nations.
Israeli authorities stated its soldiers fired cautionary rounds.
Mission Completion
The foundation announced on recently that it was winding down operations now because of the "successful completion of its crisis response", with a total of three million packages containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units delivered to Palestinians.
The GHF's executive director, Jon Acree, further mentioned the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been created to help implement 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, had major impact in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and achieving a ceasefire."
Comments and Positions
The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - supported the shutdown of the GHF, according to reports.
A spokesman for stated the foundation should be made responsible for the damage it inflicted to Palestinians.
"We request all international human rights organisations to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after resulting in fatalities and harm of many residents and concealing the nutritional restriction approach employed by the Israeli authorities."
Organization Timeline
The GHF began operations in Gaza on May 26th, a seven days following the Israeli government had moderately reduced a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and caused severe shortages of necessary provisions.
After 90 days, a famine was declared in the Palestinian urban center.
The GHF's food distribution sites in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by US private security contractors and situated within regions under Israeli military authority.
Humanitarian Concerns
International organizations and their affiliates stated the system contravened the core assistance standards of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that guiding distressed residents into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.
The UN's human rights office said it recorded the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans seeking food in the proximity to foundation locations between 26 May and 31 July.
An additional 514 individuals were fatally wounded around the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it further stated.
The majority of these individuals were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, as per the organization's documentation.
Conflicting Accounts
Israeli defense forces claimed its soldiers had released alerting fire at persons who advanced toward them in a "intimidating" fashion.
The GHF said there were no firearm incidents at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "untrue and confusing" statistics from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.
Ongoing Situation
The GHF's future had been indefinite since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a ceasefire deal to execute the initial stage of the United States' reconciliation proposal.
The agreement stated humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the international relief society, in addition to other global organizations not linked whatsoever" with Hamas and Israel.
UN spokesperson the UN spokesman said on Monday that the organization's termination would have "no impact" on its work "since we never collaborated with them".
The spokesperson additionally stated that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the halt in hostilities began on 10 October, it was "insufficient to meet all the needs" of the 2.1 million residents.