Debated US-backed GHF Aid Organization Concludes Aid Operations
The debated, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is winding down its humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory, following nearly half a year.
The organisation had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza following the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel took effect six weeks ago.
The foundation sought to bypass the UN as the primary provider of relief to Palestinian residents.
UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its approach, saying it was questionable and hazardous.
Many residents were lost their lives while trying to acquire nourishment amid disorderly situations near the organization's distribution points, mainly through Israeli military action, as reported by United Nations.
Israeli authorities stated its troops fired warning shots.
Mission Completion
The foundation announced on Monday that it was winding down operations now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its humanitarian effort", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions distributed to Gazans.
The foundation's chief officer, the foundation leader, also said the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been set up to help carry out the United States' Palestinian peace proposal - would be "adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted".
"The foundation's approach, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, was significantly influential in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."
Reactions and Responses
The militant group - which disputes allegations of misappropriation - supported the shutdown of the humanitarian foundation, based on information.
A representative of stated GHF should be made responsible for the damage it inflicted to Gazans.
"We urge all international human rights organisations to make certain that consequences are faced after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and concealing the starvation policy implemented by the Israel's administration."
Foundation History
The foundation started work in Gaza on late May, a seven days following Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a total blockade on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and caused severe shortages of vital resources.
Subsequently, a famine was declared in the Gaza metropolitan area.
The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by American private security firms and positioned in Israeli military zones.
Aid Organization Objections
United Nations agencies and their collaborators claimed the approach violated the basic relief guidelines of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that guiding distressed residents into armed forces regions was intrinsically hazardous.
The UN's human rights office stated it documented the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans trying to acquire sustenance 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 added.
The majority of these individuals were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, according to the office.
Conflicting Accounts
Israeli defense forces claimed its soldiers had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "intimidating" fashion.
The organization declared there were no shootings at the relief locations and accused the UN of using "inaccurate and deceptive" statistics from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.
Ongoing Situation
The organization's continuation had been uncertain since Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire deal to execute the initial stage of the American administration's peace initiative.
It said humanitarian assistance would take place "without interference from the involved factions through the UN organizations and their partners, and the international relief society, in addition to other worldwide bodies not connected in any way" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.
International organization official the international body's communicator declared this week that the organization's termination would have "no influence" on its operations "because we never worked with them".
The spokesperson additionally stated that while increased relief was entering the region since the truce was implemented on early October, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.