US-Backed Gaza Aid Group Shuts Down Operations After Hundreds Seeking Food Die

US-backed Gaza aid group shuts down amid criticism for directing civilians to dangerous aid hubs, where many were shot and killed by Israeli forces.

US-Backed Gaza Aid Group Shuts Down Operations After Hundreds Seeking Food Die

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | November 26, 2025

GAZA STRIP – The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid organization backed by the United States and Israel, is ceasing operations in the Palestinian territory after just six months, a decision met with condemnation and calls for accountability.

The move follows a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and comes after months of criticism over the GHF’s methods and the tragic deaths of hundreds of Palestinians seeking desperately needed food.

The GHF, established with the aim of bypassing the UN as the primary aid provider in Gaza, suspended its food distribution sites six weeks ago following the ceasefire.

From its inception, the organization faced resistance from the UN and other aid agencies that deemed its operational model unethical and unsafe.

Fatal Chaos at Aid Sites

The most damning allegations against the GHF revolve around the chaotic and deadly scenes that unfolded near its distribution sites.

While the organization delivered what it claims were three million packages of food, the UN documented the deaths of at least 859 Palestinians seeking aid in the vicinity of GHF locations between May 26 and July 31.

While the UN also reported 514 deaths near other aid convoys, the GHF sites were particularly deadly.

The UN’s human rights office attributed most of the deaths to Israeli military fire, alleging that troops fired on civilians approaching the sites.

Israel has maintained that its forces fired warning shots at individuals perceived as a threat.

The GHF has denied that any shootings occurred at its aid sites, accusing the UN of relying on “false and misleading” statistics from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Conflicting Narratives and Political Fallout

The GHF claims its goal was a “successful completion of its emergency mission” and that its model will be adopted and expanded by the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC).

US State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott echoed this sentiment, claiming the GHF’s system, which supposedly prevented Hamas from stealing aid, “played a huge role in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire.”

Hamas, however, welcomes the GHF’s closure and demands accountability.

“We call upon all international human rights organizations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of thousands of Gazans and covering up the starvation policy practiced by the (Israeli) government,” said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem.

Humanitarian Principles Violated?

From the outset, the GHF’s operations were plagued by controversy.

Its food distribution sites were operated by US private security contractors and located inside Israeli military zones.

The UN and its partners argued that this arrangement violated fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and that funneling desperate people into militarized zones was inherently unsafe.

As the GHF shuts down, questions remain about the true impact of its operations and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians.

Calls for an independent investigation into the events surrounding the GHF’s aid distribution are growing louder as the international community grapples with the legacy of the controversial initiative.