Disputed US-backed GHF Aid Organization Concludes Relief Activities
The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza relief foundation announces it is concluding its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, following nearly half a year.
The group had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in recent weeks.
The foundation sought to circumvent United Nations channels as the primary provider of aid to Gaza's population.
International relief agencies would not collaborate with its methodology, stating it was improper and dangerous.
Many residents were lost their lives while seeking food amid disorderly situations near GHF's sites, primarily from Israeli forces, as reported by United Nations.
The Israeli military claimed its troops fired alerting fire.
Mission Completion
The foundation announced on Monday that it was concluding activities now because of the "successful completion of its humanitarian effort", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units provided to residents.
The foundation's chief officer, the executive director, further mentioned the United States-operated coordination body - which has been set up to help execute the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "implementing and enlarging the system the foundation tested".
"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."
Comments and Positions
Hamas - which denies stealing aid - supported the shutdown of the aid organization, according to reports.
A spokesman for declared the foundation should be subject to scrutiny for the negative impact it created to Gazans.
"We request all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after resulting in fatalities and harm of many residents and concealing the food deprivation strategy implemented by the Israeli government."
Organization Timeline
The GHF began operations in Gaza on May 26th, a week after the Israeli government had moderately reduced a complete restriction on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of vital resources.
Subsequently, a food crisis was announced in the Gaza metropolitan area.
The organization's sustenance provision locations in various parts of the Palestinian territory were operated by US private security contractors and positioned in Israeli military zones.
Aid Organization Objections
The UN and its partners stated the approach contravened the basic relief guidelines of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that channelling desperate people into armed forces regions was fundamentally dangerous.
International human rights monitoring body reported it tracked the killing of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food in the area surrounding organization centers between late May through end of July.
Another 514 people were killed near the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it also mentioned.
Most of them were lost their lives due to the Israeli military, according to the office.
Contrasting Reports
Israeli defense forces claimed its soldiers had released alerting fire at people who approached them in a "threatening" fashion.
The foundation stated there were no shootings at the aid sites and claimed the international organization of using "false and misleading" statistics from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.
Subsequent Developments
The foundation's prospects had been indefinite since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a halt in hostilities arrangement to execute the primary segment of the American administration's peace initiative.
It said humanitarian assistance would take place "without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in combination with other global organizations not linked whatsoever" with militant groups and the Israeli government.
United Nations representative the UN spokesman said on Monday that the organization's termination would have "zero effect" on its operations "as we never partnered with them".
The spokesperson additionally stated that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the truce was implemented on October 10th, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.