Hamas Welcomes End of “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” Operations

DID Press: Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the U.S. and Israel as an alternative to UN agencies for aid distribution, has ceased operations after nearly six months of controversial activity. The UN has reported hundreds of deaths near the foundation’s distribution centers, while Hamas described the closure as “the end of a deadly mission.”

GHF had been responsible for distributing some of Gaza’s food aid with backing from the U.S. and Israel. From its inception, the organization faced international criticism for neglecting standard aid distribution procedures and bypassing oversight structures. The UN repeatedly labeled its operations “unethical, unsafe, and unreliable,” stating it never cooperated with the foundation.

According to UN Human Rights Office data, at least 859 Palestinians died over a nine-week period near GHF distribution sites, either while waiting for aid or due to Israeli gunfire. While Tel Aviv claims its forces only fired warning shots, UN and GHF reports diverge.

GHF described its closure as the “successful conclusion of an emergency mission,” claiming to have distributed roughly three million food packages, equivalent to 187 million meals. Hamas, however, welcomed the shutdown, calling it responsible for “thousands of Palestinian deaths” and demanding accountability from the foundation’s officials.

Although GHF’s activities have stopped, the model it used continues to interest the U.S. John Akre, GHF’s executive director, said that the U.S. Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), part of Donald Trump’s peace plan, “will adopt and expand the foundation’s pilot approach.” U.S. officials argue that this model prevents aid from reaching Hamas.

With the recent ceasefire agreement emphasizing aid distribution through the UN and neutral organizations, GHF’s continued operation was always in question. The UN confirmed that, since it never collaborated with the foundation, its closure does not affect official humanitarian aid efforts.