Gaza Aid Group Backed by US and Israel Closes Operations Amid Criticism and Controversy
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A US- and Israeli-backed organisation, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has announced it's ending its aid distribution operations in Gaza after months of controversy and criticism. The GHF, which was established in May to deliver food to needy Palestinians, had faced backlash over the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach its aid hubs. The GHF had bypassed traditional aid agencies, including the United Nations, to distribute food, which led to criticism from European leaders. The organisation's sites were mainly located in southern Gaza, forcing Palestinians to walk long distances to collect aid. As a result, hundreds of Palestinians were shot dead near the sites when they first opened. In a statement, GHF Executive Director John Acree said the organisation had succeeded in its mission of showing a 'better way' to deliver aid to Gazans. He added that a US-led coordination centre in Israel would be adopting and expanding the GHF's model. The GHF had received tens of millions of dollars in funding from the Trump administration, but its funding sources remained unclear. The organisation had also faced criticism for its ties to the Trump administration's plan to end the Gaza war, which bars aid groups linked to either side. The closure of the GHF comes as a welcome development for Hamas, which had called for the organisation to be prosecuted for 'crimes' against Palestinians. The GHF had delivered 187 million meals to Gazans since its inception, but this averages out to less than a meal a day for the 2 million Palestinians in the region. The GHF's suspension of operations in October was initially framed as temporary, but it has now confirmed that it is winding down its operations. The organisation's decision to end its operations has been met with a mix of reactions, with some praising its efforts to deliver aid to Gazans, while others have criticised its methods and ties to the US and Israel.
