The US-backed aid organisation GHF has shut down operations in Gaza after a controversial six-month run that saw hundreds of Palestinians killed whilst collecting food near its distribution sites, according to a BBC report.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation suspended its three food centres after the ceasefire took effect six weeks ago and announced on Monday it was winding down completely.
The group tried to sideline the UN as Gaza’s main aid supplier, but UN agencies refused to work with it, calling the operation unethical and dangerous.
At least 859 Palestinians were killed seeking food near GHF sites between 26 May and 31 July, mostly by Israeli troops, according to the UN human rights office. Israel said soldiers fired warning shots at people who approached in a threatening manner.
The foundation claimed success on Monday, saying it delivered three million packages—equivalent to more than 187 million meals—and completed its emergency mission.
Executive director Jon Acree said the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre, which is implementing Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, would adopt and expand the GHF model.
US state department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said on X the group’s approach, which he claimed prevented Hamas from stealing aid, helped push the militant group towards a ceasefire.
Hamas, which denies looting aid, welcomed the closure and demanded accountability.
Spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Telegram that international human rights groups must ensure GHF doesn’t escape responsibility for causing thousands of deaths and injuries whilst covering up Israel’s starvation policy.
The foundation started work on 26 May, a week after Israel partially lifted an 11-week total blockade that caused severe shortages. Gaza City was declared in famine three months later.
US private security contractors ran the food sites in southern and central Gaza, all located inside Israeli military zones.
UN agencies said this breached core humanitarian principles of neutrality and independence, and that funnelling desperate civilians into military areas was inherently unsafe.
Beyond the 859 killed near GHF sites, another 514 Palestinians died near UN and other aid convoy routes during the same period, the UN human rights office said. Most deaths were caused by Israeli forces.
The foundation denied any shootings happened at its sites and accused the UN of using false statistics from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Trump’s peace plan, which led to the ceasefire, specified that aid distribution would happen through the UN, Red Crescent and other international bodies not linked to Hamas or Israel.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday the shutdown would have no impact on UN operations because the two never worked together.
More aid has entered Gaza since the ceasefire started on 10 October, but it’s still not enough for the 2.1 million population, he said.
(information from The BBC)
