Debated American-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Humanitarian Work
The controversial, American and Israeli-supported Gaza relief foundation announces it is terminating its humanitarian work in the Gaza region, after almost six months.
The group had previously halted its several relief locations in Gaza subsequent to the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel was implemented recently.
The organization attempted to circumvent United Nations channels as the primary provider of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.
UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its approach, claiming it was unethical and unsafe.
Many residents were lost their lives while attempting to obtain sustenance amid disorderly situations near the organization's distribution points, primarily from Israeli forces, as reported by United Nations.
Israel said its forces fired alerting fire.
Program Termination
The organization declared on recently that it was terminating work now because of the "successful completion of its crisis response", with a total of three million packages containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions delivered to Palestinians.
The foundation's chief officer, the executive director, further mentioned the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been set up to help implement the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the approach the organization demonstrated".
"The foundation's approach, 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."
Comments and Positions
Hamas - which denies stealing aid - welcomed the closure of the humanitarian foundation, based on information.
A spokesman for said the organization should be held accountable for the harm it caused to Palestinians.
"We urge all worldwide humanitarian bodies to make certain that consequences are faced after causing the death and injury of many residents and obscuring the nutritional restriction approach employed by the Israel's administration."
Organization Timeline
The GHF began operations in Gaza on 26 May, a seven days following the Israeli government had moderately reduced a comprehensive closure on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of necessary provisions.
Three months later, a famine was declared in the Gaza metropolitan area.
The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were managed by US private security contractors and situated within areas controlled by Israeli forces.
Relief Agency Issues
International organizations and their affiliates said the approach violated the basic relief guidelines of non-partisanship, even-handedness and self-determination, and that directing needy individuals into armed forces regions was inherently unsafe.
United Nations human rights division stated it documented the killing of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites between spring and summer months.
Another 514 people were killed near the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it also mentioned.
The greater part of these people were lost their lives due to the Israeli military, according to the office.
Contrasting Reports
Israeli defense forces said its forces had fired warning shots at people who approached them in a "intimidating" way.
The GHF said there were no firearm incidents at the relief locations and accused the UN of using "inaccurate and deceptive" figures from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.
Future Implications
The GHF's future had been uncertain since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a halt in hostilities arrangement to carry out the initial stage of the American administration's peace initiative.
It said relief provision would take place "free from intervention from the both sides through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the humanitarian medical organization, in addition to other global organizations not associated in any manner" with militant groups and the Israeli government.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the organization's termination would have "no impact" on its operations "since we never collaborated with them".
He also said that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on October 10th, it was "insufficient to address all necessities" of the over two million inhabitants.