Disputed US-backed GHF Aid Organization Concludes Humanitarian Work
The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is concluding its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, after almost six months.
The foundation had already suspended its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect recently.
The foundation sought to circumvent United Nations channels as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.
United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups declined to participate with its methodology, stating it was improper and dangerous.
Numerous Gazans were killed while attempting to obtain sustenance amid turbulent circumstances near the foundation's locations, primarily from Israeli forces, based on UN documentation.
Israeli authorities stated its forces fired alerting fire.
Mission Completion
The foundation announced on the beginning of the week that it was winding down operations now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its emergency mission", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions provided to residents.
The GHF's executive director, the foundation leader, additionally stated the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been created to help carry out the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "implementing and enlarging the model GHF piloted".
"The organization's system, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, was significantly influential in getting Hamas to the table and establishing a truce."
Feedback and Statements
The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - welcomed the closure of the GHF, according to reports.
A representative of stated the foundation should be made responsible for the damage it inflicted to Palestinians.
"We urge all international human rights organisations to make certain that consequences are faced after causing the death and injury of many residents and obscuring the nutritional restriction approach practised by the Israel's administration."
Operational Background
The foundation started work in Gaza on May 26th, a short period subsequent to Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a complete restriction on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that continued for 77 days and led to substantial deficiencies of essential supplies.
Subsequently, a food crisis was announced in the Palestinian urban center.
The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were administered by American private security firms and located inside areas controlled by Israeli forces.
Aid Organization Objections
International organizations and their affiliates claimed the methodology contravened the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that directing needy individuals into military-controlled areas was inherently unsafe.
International human rights monitoring body said it recorded the killing of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites between spring and summer months.
Another 514 people were lost their lives close to the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it further stated.
Most of them were fatally wounded by the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.
Conflicting Accounts
Israeli defense forces stated its forces had fired warning shots at individuals who came near them in a "intimidating" way.
The foundation stated there were no shooting events at the distribution centers and alleged that United Nations of using "false and misleading" figures from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.
Ongoing Situation
The organization's continuation had been uncertain since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a ceasefire deal to implement the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal.
The agreement stated aid distribution would take place "without interference from the two parties through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the humanitarian medical organization, in combination with other international institutions not associated in any manner" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric declared this week that the foundation's closure would have "zero effect" on its operations "since we never collaborated with them".
The official further mentioned that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on October 10th, it was "inadequate to meet all the needs" of the 2.1 million residents.