The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization supported by the United States and Israel, has announced the cessation of its aid operations in the Palestinian territory after nearly six months. The GHF had previously suspended its three food distribution sites in Gaza following a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel six weeks prior.
Operational Details and Stated Objectives
The GHF commenced its operations in Gaza on May 26, approximately one week after Israel partially eased an 11-week blockade on aid and commercial deliveries to the region. Three months into the GHF's presence, a famine was declared in Gaza City. The organization stated on Monday that it is winding down operations due to the "successful completion of its emergency mission," reporting the delivery of three million packages, equivalent to over 187 million meals.
GHF's executive director, Jon Acree, indicated that the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC), established to support the implementation of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, would be "adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted." US State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott stated on X that GHF's model, by preventing aid diversion, played a role in bringing Hamas to the negotiating table and achieving a ceasefire.
Concerns and Incidents
The GHF's food distribution sites, located in southern and central Gaza, were situated within Israeli military zones and operated by US private security contractors. The organization's stated aim was to provide aid independently of the United Nations (UN) system.
The UN and other aid agencies declined to cooperate with the GHF's system, citing concerns about humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and deeming the placement of distribution points in militarized zones as inherently unsafe.
The UN's human rights office reported the deaths of at least 859 Palestinians seeking food near GHF sites between May 26 and July 31. An additional 514 individuals were reported killed near routes used by UN and other aid convoys during the same period. The office attributed most of these fatalities to the Israeli military. The Israeli military stated that its troops had discharged warning shots at individuals who approached them in a "threatening" manner. The GHF, in contrast, asserted that no shootings occurred at its aid sites and accused the UN of utilizing "false and misleading" statistics from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
Reactions and Impact
Hamas, which denies allegations of aid theft, welcomed the closure of the GHF. A Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qassem, stated via Telegram that the GHF should be held accountable for any harm caused to Palestinians.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric commented on Monday that the GHF's shutdown would have "no impact" on UN operations, as the UN had never collaborated with the organization. Dujarric also noted that while aid access to Gaza had increased since the ceasefire on October 10, the volume remained "not enough to meet all the needs" of the 2.1 million population.