US-Backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ceases Operations Amid Controversy

Wed Nov 26 2025 06:17:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the US and Israel, has announced it will end its operations in Gaza following a ceasefire, drawing mixed reactions and scrutiny over its methods and impact.

The US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is winding down its operations after nearly six months, having already suspended food distribution amid a ceasefire. Critics, including Hamas, have condemned the organization for its approach, claiming it led to significant harm to Palestinians seeking aid. The GHF claims to have delivered millions of meals but faces allegations of unethical practices. The UN highlights that its operations contravened fundamental humanitarian principles.

The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is winding down its aid operations in the Palestinian territory, after almost six months.

The organisation had already suspended its three food distribution sites in Gaza after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect six weeks ago.

The GHF aimed to bypass the UN as the main supplier of aid to Gaza's population. UN and other aid agencies refused to co-operate with its system, saying it was unethical and unsafe.

Hundreds of Palestinians were killed while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near GHF's sites, mostly by Israeli fire, according to the UN. Israel said its troops fired warning shots.

The GHF said on Monday that it was winding down operations now because of the successful completion of its emergency mission, with a total of three million packages containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals delivered to Palestinians.

The GHF's executive director, Jon Acree, also stated that the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) would be adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted.

US state department spokesperson Tommy Piggott wrote on X: GHF's model, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, played a huge role in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire.

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - welcomed the closure of the GHF, claiming the organization should be held accountable for the harm it caused to Palestinians.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that GHF's shutdown would have no impact on its operations, emphasizing that more aid was needed to meet the demands of the population.