The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israel-backed aid group, is ending its operations after nearly six months, a move hailed by Hamas and criticized by human rights organizations.
The GHF was established to bypass traditional UN aid channels, but its model was mired in controversy from the start. Its food distribution sites were located inside Israeli military zones and operated by private US security contractors. The UN and other aid agencies refused to cooperate, calling the system unethical and unsafe.
The organization’s legacy is defined by a starkly different set of facts:
- According to the UN:Â At least 859 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while seeking food near GHF sites. The UN stated that channeling civilians into militarized zones violated fundamental humanitarian principles.
- According to the GHF: It successfully delivered the equivalent of 187 million meals and its model “played a huge role” in forcing Hamas to agree to a ceasefire by preventing the group from looting aid—an accusation Hamas denies.
The US State Department praised the GHF’s “model,” which will reportedly be expanded by a US-led coordination center. Conversely, Hamas welcomed its closure and called for the foundation to be held accountable for the “death and injury of thousands.”
With the GHF’s departure, aid distribution will now revert to traditional agencies like the UN, which stated the shutdown would have “no impact” on its own operations.
By James Kisoo
