Disputed United States-funded Gaza Relief Group Concludes Aid Operations
The debated, US and Israel-backed Gaza relief foundation says it is concluding its humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory, subsequent to approximately 180 days.
The group had previously halted its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into force six weeks ago.
The organization attempted to circumvent United Nations channels as the chief distributor of relief to Palestinian residents.
International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its approach, stating it was improper and dangerous.
Many residents were lost their lives while attempting to obtain sustenance amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, mainly through Israeli military action, as reported by United Nations.
Israeli authorities stated its soldiers fired alerting fire.
Program Termination
The foundation announced on recently that it was winding down operations now because of the "successful completion of its crisis response", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions provided to residents.
The foundation's chief officer, the executive director, also said the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been created to help carry out the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the system the foundation tested".
"The organization's system, in which Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, had major impact in convincing militant groups to participate and achieving a ceasefire."
Feedback and Statements
Hamas - which denies stealing aid - welcomed the closure of the aid organization, according to reports.
A spokesman for said the foundation should be made responsible for the negative impact it created to local residents.
"We urge all worldwide humanitarian bodies to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and obscuring the food deprivation strategy implemented by the Israel's administration."
Operational Background
The organization commenced activities in Gaza on late May, a seven days following Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a comprehensive closure on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that continued for 77 days and led to substantial deficiencies of necessary provisions.
After 90 days, a food crisis was announced in the Palestinian urban center.
The organization's sustenance provision locations in various parts of the Palestinian territory were managed by American private security firms and located inside Israeli military zones.
Humanitarian Concerns
United Nations agencies and their collaborators said the approach violated the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that guiding distressed residents into armed forces regions was inherently unsafe.
International human rights monitoring body stated it documented the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites between late May through end of July.
Another 514 people were killed near the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it also mentioned.
Most of them were lost their lives due to the Israeli forces, as per the organization's documentation.
Contrasting Reports
Israeli defense forces claimed its troops had discharged cautionary rounds at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" fashion.
The GHF said there were no shootings at the aid sites and alleged that United Nations of using "inaccurate and deceptive" statistics from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.
Future Implications
The foundation's prospects had been unclear since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a halt in hostilities arrangement to implement the first phase of the American administration's peace initiative.
The agreement stated humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the involved factions through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the international relief society, in combination with other global organizations not connected in any way" with militant groups and the Israeli government.
International organization official Stephane Dujarric declared this week that the GHF's shutdown would have "no influence" on its work "since we never collaborated with them".
He also said that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "not enough to address all necessities" of the over two million inhabitants.