The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US-backed aid initiative, announced today that it is shutting down operations in the Gaza Strip after months of deadly chaos surrounding its food and supply distribution sites, according to Al Jazeera News.
The organization said its closure aligns with terms outlined in the October Israel–Hamas ceasefire agreement, which created new coordination channels for humanitarian relief and effectively replaced the system under which GHF had been operating.
The decision follows mounting scrutiny over the violent conditions that plagued the foundation’s sites since it began work in May 2025. According to UN experts, at least 859 Palestinians were killed near GHF distribution points, where Israeli forces and foreign security contractors repeatedly opened fire on crowds desperate for food and basic supplies. The experts described the scenes as emblematic of a humanitarian system “on the brink of collapse.”
GHF quickly became a flashpoint in the wider diplomatic debate over aid access in Gaza. Humanitarian groups and international observers criticized the scheme for circumventing established UN relief structures and enabling militarized control of aid channels. In August, 28 UN experts issued a blistering statement urging the program’s dismantlement and calling it an “utterly disturbing example” of assistance being co-opted for military objectives.
In a final statement, GHF’s executive director John Acree defended the organization’s mission, insisting it had played a crucial role during one of Gaza’s darkest periods. “We built an alternative model that worked one that saved lives and restored dignity to civilians in Gaza,” Acree said. “But with new mechanisms now in place, this is the responsible moment to step aside.”
