The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which was supported by the U.S. and Israel and was established to provide aid to Gaza as an alternative to the United Nations, has announced the closure of its operations. The foundation had previously closed its distribution sites following a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. six weeks ago in Gaza. It stated on Monday that it was permanently shutting down, asserting that it had achieved its objectives. According to GHF director John Acree, “We have successfully demonstrated a more effective method of delivering aid to Gazans.”
Throughout its brief existence, the operations of the GHF were veiled in secrecy. Despite being launched with support from the U.S. and Israel as an alternative to the United Nations, the group never disclosed its funding sources or much information about the armed contractors managing the sites. Its primary aim was to ensure aid reached Gaza without diversion by Hamas.
Reports from Palestinians, aid workers, and health officials indicated that individuals seeking aid were compelled to risk their lives to reach the distribution sites, passing through Israeli troops stationed to secure the locations. Witnesses and social media videos claimed that soldiers frequently fired, resulting in numerous casualties. The Israeli military maintained that it only used warning shots for crowd control or in response to perceived threats.
GHF denied any violence occurring at the aid sites but acknowledged the risks faced by individuals traveling to the sites on foot. Accounts from contractors at the sites, supported by videos, alleged that American security guards used live ammunition and stun grenades as desperate Palestinians vied for food.
Acree revealed that GHF would transfer its responsibilities to the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center overseeing the Gaza ceasefire. He stated, “GHF has been in discussions with CMCC and international organizations for several weeks regarding future plans, and it is evident that they will adopt and expand the model pioneered by GHF.”
Tommy Piggott, a deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, mentioned on the social media platform X that GHF had shared valuable insights with the U.S. and its partners.
The GHF commenced operations in late May after Israel ceased food deliveries to Gaza for three months, exacerbating the humanitarian situation. Israel intended for the private contractor group to supplant the UN’s food distribution system, citing allegations of aid diversion by Hamas, which the UN refuted. The UN opposed the establishment of GHF, warning that it granted Israel control over food distribution and could lead to Palestinian displacement. Throughout the conflict, the UN spearheaded a significant humanitarian campaign alongside other aid organizations, supplying food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials at numerous centers across Gaza.
GHF reported delivering over three million food boxes to Gaza, equating to 187 million meals.
In a separate development, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group disclosed that it had located the body of a hostage in an area under Israeli army control in Gaza. The body is one of three still in Gaza.
Following a truce between Hamas and Israel on Oct. 9, which ended two years of devastating conflict, unresolved disputes were left for further negotiations. The agreement facilitated the release of all 20 surviving hostages in Gaza by Hamas in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees held by Israel. Additionally, the deal involved the return of the remains of 28 hostages in exchange for the remains of 360 militants. Both sides have accused each other of breaching commitments under the agreement and resisting subsequent steps outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
The conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 individuals taken hostage, as per Israeli reports. Since then, over 69,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 170,800 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s data does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but indicates that women and children constitute the majority of the fatalities. The ministry, under the Hamas-led government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains comprehensive records considered reliable by independent analysts.