The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the U.S. and Israel to provide aid in Gaza independently from the United Nations, has announced the closure of its operations. Following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire six weeks ago, the foundation had already ceased distribution activities and confirmed the permanent shutdown on Monday, citing the successful achievement of its objectives. GHF Director John Acree stated, “We have demonstrated a more effective approach to delivering assistance to Gazans.”
Throughout its brief existence, GHF operated discreetly, with undisclosed funding sources and limited information about the armed contractors managing the distribution sites. The foundation’s primary aim was to ensure aid reached Gaza without interference from Hamas.
Reports from Palestinians, aid workers, and health officials highlighted the risks faced by individuals seeking aid, including confrontations with Israeli soldiers securing the distribution sites. Allegations of fatal shootings by soldiers were raised, although the Israeli military defended the use of force as necessary for crowd control and self-defense.
GHF acknowledged the potential dangers for aid-seekers traveling to the sites but denied violence within the distribution areas. However, accounts from contractors indicated that American security personnel deployed live ammunition and stun grenades during food distributions, creating chaotic scenes.
GHF revealed plans to transition its responsibilities to the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center overseeing the Gaza ceasefire. Discussions have been ongoing with international organizations to expand on the model GHF pioneered.
The foundation’s establishment in late May aimed to address the halt in food deliveries to Gaza by Israel, purportedly due to Hamas diverting aid. The UN, which led extensive humanitarian efforts during the conflict, opposed GHF, expressing concerns about the potential repercussions of allowing Israel control over food distribution.
In its statement, GHF reported delivering over three million food boxes, equating to 187 million meals in Gaza. Meanwhile, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced the discovery of a hostage’s body within an Israeli-controlled area in Gaza, awaiting handover arrangements.
The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel marked a temporary halt to hostilities, with unresolved disputes requiring further negotiations. Notably, the deal facilitated the release of hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and the return of hostages’ remains.
The conflict, initiated by a Hamas-led attack in October 2023, resulted in significant casualties and extensive injuries, with a majority of the victims being women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry data. Both sides have accused each other of violating commitments under the agreement and resisting subsequent steps outlined in the U.S. President’s peace plan for Gaza.