Controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announces end of its mission

• The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has announced it is ending its “mission” in Gaza.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has announced it is permanently shuttering its operations in Gaza, declaring that it has completed its mission.

“From the outset, GHF’s goal was to meet an urgent need, prove that a new approach could succeed where others had failed, and ultimately hand off that success to the broader international community,” GHF Executive Director John Acree said in a statement on Monday.

Since launching in late May, GHF claimed it had distributed more than 3 million aid boxes, equivalent to 187 million meals, according to the organization. Its deliveries included more than 1.1 million packs of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) designed for malnourished children.

However, several reports have linked GHF distribution sites to violent incidents. Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that Israeli forces killed more than 2,500 Palestinians at these sites or while waiting for aid trucks. Al Jazeera further reported that remnants of 'Israeli' munitions were found at abandoned GHF locations.

Why the Shutdown?

GHF said its decision to cease operations reflects its stated goal being achieved: to prove a “better way” of delivering aid that could later be adopted by larger international bodies. The foundation plans to transfer responsibility for its distribution model to the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which now oversees parts of Gaza’s ceasefire-era humanitarian architecture. 

GHF says it will remain a registered NGO, and could re-launch operations if new humanitarian needs emerge. 

Criticism and Risk

From the start, GHF drew sharp criticism from UN agencies and aid organizations, which accused it of undermining neutrality, leveraging aid for political aims, and exposing Gazans to danger at its sites. 

In its early stages, the group saw high-level resignations: Jake Wood, its founding executive director, stepped down before the first aid deliveries, citing irreconcilable differences with how the operation was being run. He said the foundation couldn’t properly uphold “humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.” 

GHF distribution sites also faced violent incidents. In June, the foundation shut down its centers following several days of shootings near aid points, prompting safety concerns. 

GHF’s Own Reflection

In a statement, GHF expressed gratitude to its staff and to Gazans who depended on its aid:

“We have succeeded in our mission of showing there’s a better way to deliver aid to Gazans,” said John Acree. www.israelhayom.com
The foundation said it will continue to “support the people of Gaza with hope, dignity and trust” as it transitions its work to other humanitarian bodies.