Controversial American-supported Gaza Relief Group Concludes Aid Operations
The debated, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is concluding its humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory, after almost six months.
The group had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza subsequent to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into force recently.
The foundation sought to bypass the UN as the main supplier of relief to Palestinian residents.
UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its methodology, saying it was questionable and hazardous.
Hundreds of Palestinians were lost their lives while seeking food amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, primarily from Israeli forces, as reported by United Nations.
The Israeli military claimed its forces fired warning shots.
Operation Conclusion
The GHF said on the beginning of the week that it was terminating work now because of the "effective conclusion of its crisis response", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units delivered to Palestinians.
The organization's top administrator, Jon Acree, additionally stated the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been set up to help implement the United States' Palestinian peace proposal - would be "implementing and enlarging the model GHF piloted".
"The foundation's approach, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, played a huge role in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."
Comments and Positions
Hamas - which denies stealing aid - supported the shutdown of the humanitarian foundation, based on information.
A spokesman for stated the organization should be held accountable for the damage it inflicted to local residents.
"We request all worldwide humanitarian bodies to ensure that it does not escape accountability after resulting in fatalities and harm of numerous Palestinians and covering up the starvation policy employed by the Israeli authorities."
Operational Background
The foundation started work in Gaza on 26 May, a week after the Israeli government had moderately reduced a comprehensive closure on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of essential supplies.
Three months later, a food crisis was announced in Gaza City.
The GHF's food distribution sites in southern and central Gaza were administered by American private security firms and located inside areas controlled by Israeli forces.
Humanitarian Concerns
United Nations agencies and their collaborators claimed the approach violated the basic relief guidelines of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that channelling desperate people into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.
United Nations human rights division said it recorded the killing of at least 859 Palestinians trying to acquire sustenance in the proximity to foundation locations between spring and summer months.
A further 514 persons were fatally wounded around the paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it further stated.
The greater part of these people were fatally wounded by the Israeli forces, based on the agency's reports.
Contrasting Reports
Israeli defense forces claimed its soldiers had discharged cautionary rounds at individuals who came near them in a "threatening" way.
The GHF said there were no shootings at the distribution centers and accused the UN of using "false and misleading" figures from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
Ongoing Situation
The organization's continuation had been uncertain since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a halt in hostilities arrangement to execute the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal.
The agreement stated humanitarian assistance would take place "without interference from the both sides through the UN organizations and their partners, and the international relief society, in addition to other global organizations not connected in any way" with Hamas and Israel.
International organization official the UN spokesman stated recently that the foundation's closure would have "zero effect" on its work "since we never collaborated with them".
The official further mentioned that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October, it was "not enough to satisfy all requirements" of the 2.1 million residents.