00:00The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, GHF, says it is winding down its aid operations in the
00:06Palestinian territory after nearly six months. The privately run group backed by the United
00:11States and Israel has faced widespread criticism. The United Nations reported that hundreds of
00:17Palestinians were killed while seeking food near aid sites operated by the company,
00:23with most casualties caused by Israeli fire amid chaotic conditions.
00:27The controversial group, which took charge of aid distribution in May after Israel restricted
00:33the United Nations role, announced that it was permanently shutting down after fulfilling its
00:39mission of distributing more than 187 million free meals to civilians in Gaza. The foundation had
00:46already closed distribution sites after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect six weeks ago.
00:52The UN was sharply critical of the organization, pointing out that it operated only
00:57four distribution sites, compared with the UN's former network of 400. In August,
01:04a UN panel reported that the foundation's aid had been misused for covert military and geopolitical
01:10purposes. The group never revealed its sources of funding and said little about the armed contractors
01:16who operated the sites. UN rapporteurs later called for the group to be dissolved.
01:21A spokesman for Hamas said the organization must be held accountable for the harm caused and urged
01:28human rights groups to ensure it faces responsibility for deaths, injuries and what he described as
01:34involvement in a starvation policy attributed to Israel.
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