Controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to Shut Down Amid Criticism Over Violent Incidents
In a move that has been welcomed by international aid organizations, the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced yesterday that it will be ending its operations in the devastated territory. The decision comes after more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid from GHF sites were killed or injured by Israeli military forces.
The GHF, which was launched during a severe famine in Gaza last year, had become a flashpoint of chaos and deadly violence between May and October, with reports of US security guards firing live ammunition and stun grenades at desperate Palestinians scrambling for food. The foundation's opaque operations and close ties to the Israeli government had also raised suspicions among aid workers.
The GHF denied any violence in its aid sites themselves but acknowledged the potential dangers people faced when traveling to them on foot. However, eyewitness accounts and medical records suggest that many of those killed or injured were simply trying to access aid from GHF sites.
In a statement, the GHF said it had delivered over 187 million meals directly to civilians living in Gaza, calling it "a record humanitarian operation". The foundation claimed to have worked safely and efficiently, without diversion to Hamas or other entities. However, critics say that its close ties to the Israeli government and lack of transparency raised serious concerns about its legitimacy.
The US state department has praised the GHF for its humanitarian work and its contribution to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza. However, a spokesperson for Hamas has called on international human rights organizations to ensure that the GHF is held accountable for the harm it caused to Palestinians.
As the GHF shuts down its operations, many are left wondering about the implications for aid efforts in Gaza. The US-brokered ceasefire took effect last month, but critics say that the Israeli government's blockade and restrictions on aid have made it difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate effectively.
The decision by the GHF to end its operations marks a significant turning point in the conflict over aid delivery in Gaza. As one former senior official at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) noted, "GHF has been in talks with CMCC and international organisations now for weeks about the way forward... it's clear they will be adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted."
In a move that has been welcomed by international aid organizations, the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced yesterday that it will be ending its operations in the devastated territory. The decision comes after more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid from GHF sites were killed or injured by Israeli military forces.
The GHF, which was launched during a severe famine in Gaza last year, had become a flashpoint of chaos and deadly violence between May and October, with reports of US security guards firing live ammunition and stun grenades at desperate Palestinians scrambling for food. The foundation's opaque operations and close ties to the Israeli government had also raised suspicions among aid workers.
The GHF denied any violence in its aid sites themselves but acknowledged the potential dangers people faced when traveling to them on foot. However, eyewitness accounts and medical records suggest that many of those killed or injured were simply trying to access aid from GHF sites.
In a statement, the GHF said it had delivered over 187 million meals directly to civilians living in Gaza, calling it "a record humanitarian operation". The foundation claimed to have worked safely and efficiently, without diversion to Hamas or other entities. However, critics say that its close ties to the Israeli government and lack of transparency raised serious concerns about its legitimacy.
The US state department has praised the GHF for its humanitarian work and its contribution to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza. However, a spokesperson for Hamas has called on international human rights organizations to ensure that the GHF is held accountable for the harm it caused to Palestinians.
As the GHF shuts down its operations, many are left wondering about the implications for aid efforts in Gaza. The US-brokered ceasefire took effect last month, but critics say that the Israeli government's blockade and restrictions on aid have made it difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate effectively.
The decision by the GHF to end its operations marks a significant turning point in the conflict over aid delivery in Gaza. As one former senior official at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) noted, "GHF has been in talks with CMCC and international organisations now for weeks about the way forward... it's clear they will be adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted."
I'm like so late to this thread but OMG can you believe what happened to that Gaza Humanitarian Foundation? Like, I knew it was sketchy from the start but I had no idea it got THAT out of hand 
. 1k+ people get killed or hurt by Israeli forces and now they're just shutting down their ops like everything's cool? 
It's just not right. And to think the US was all for this org... what were they thinking? 
I mean, I'm not surprised the Hamas rep is calling for accountability tho 
. This whole thing stinks of politics and greed imo. Can we just get some real aid to Gaza already? 
. One thing that is for sure though, 1000+ people getting killed or injured is way too many 
. I mean, they claim to have delivered over 187 million meals but at what cost? The fact that eyewitness accounts and medical records suggest people were just trying to get aid from their sites raises so many questions about their operations 
. It's like, okay, yeah, they may have done some good but at what expense? And now that they're shutting down, it leaves a huge void in aid efforts for Gaza 
. I'm not saying the US or Israel are entirely to blame but we need to be more critical of how aid is delivered and who's behind the scenes 
. it's like, come on, 1000+ ppl dead and no one's holding anyone accountable? and now they're just gonna "adopt and expand" the model without making any real changes? 
