🔗 Share this article Controversial United States-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Terminates Relief Activities This organization had paused its food distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the truce took effect recently The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza relief foundation says it is concluding its relief activities in the Gaza region, following nearly half a year. The foundation had previously halted its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented six weeks ago. The organization attempted to bypass the UN as the chief distributor of relief to Palestinian residents. United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups refused to co-operate with its system, saying it was improper and dangerous. Hundreds of Palestinians were fatally wounded while attempting to obtain sustenance amid chaotic scenes near the organization's distribution points, primarily from Israeli forces, based on UN documentation. Israel said its forces fired alerting fire. Program Termination The GHF said on the beginning of the week that it was concluding activities now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its humanitarian effort", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals provided to residents. The organization's top administrator, Jon Acree, also said the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been set up to help execute the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "taking over and developing the approach the organization demonstrated". "The organization's system, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, had major impact in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and achieving a ceasefire." Reactions and Responses The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - approved the termination of the GHF, based on information. An official from stated GHF should be subject to scrutiny for the harm it caused to local residents. "We urge all international human rights organisations to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after resulting in fatalities and harm of thousands of Gazans and obscuring the food deprivation strategy implemented by the Israel's administration." Organization Timeline The organization commenced activities in Gaza on late May, a seven days following Israel had partially eased a comprehensive closure on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and resulted in critical deficits of essential supplies. Subsequently, a famine was declared in Gaza City. The GHF's food distribution sites in southern and central Gaza were operated by American private security firms and located inside areas controlled by Israeli forces. Relief Agency Issues The UN and its partners stated the system violated the fundamental humanitarian principles of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that directing needy individuals into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous. The UN's human rights office stated it documented the killing of at least 859 Palestinians attempting to obtain nourishment in the vicinity of GHF sites between 26 May and 31 July. A further 514 persons were fatally wounded around the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it further stated. Most of them were killed by the Israeli forces, according to the office. Contrasting Reports Israeli defense forces said its troops had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "intimidating" way. The foundation stated there were no firearm incidents at the aid sites and alleged that United Nations of using "untrue and confusing" statistics from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Subsequent Developments The organization's continuation had been unclear since Hamas and Israel agreed a halt in hostilities arrangement to implement the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal. The arrangement specified 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 connected in any way" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities. UN spokesperson the international body's communicator stated recently that the foundation's closure 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 halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "insufficient to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.