U.S., Israel-backed aid company ends operations

AWANI

The U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is winding down operations in Gaza. The UN reports hundreds of Palestinians were killed near its aid sites, mostly by Israeli fire, amid chaotic conditions.

Transcript

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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