The controversial US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced on November 24, 2025, that it is permanently ending its aid operations in Gaza, following months of intense international criticism over its distribution model that led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians.
The GHF began its operations in late May 2025, established as a private, U.S.-backed alternative to the United Nations for distributing aid in Gaza. Its stated goal was to deliver food aid directly to civilians without diversion, operating a limited number of Secure Distribution Sites (SDSs), often located within Israeli military zones and secured by private American contractors. This model immediately drew condemnation from the UN and major humanitarian agencies, who accused it of violating the core principles of neutrality and impartiality, and of "weaponizing aid" by forcing desperate civilians to travel long distances into militarized areas to receive food. The organization's first executive director, Jake Wood, resigned after just days, stating he would not be part of a plan that abandoned fundamental humanitarian principles.
The GHF's operations quickly became flashpoints for lethal violence. According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 859 Palestinians were killed while seeking food in the vicinity of GHF sites between late May and the end of July. Other reports from the Guardian, based on witness accounts and medical records, indicate the number of killed and injured near GHF sites exceeded 1,000. The Israeli military, which secured the areas around the sites, stated it only fired warning shots at people who approached in a "threatening" manner. However, a CNN investigation into one incident confirmed that the Israeli military opened fire on crowds of Palestinians trying to get food. Survivors began referring to the distribution points as "death traps", and 28 UN experts appealed for the GHF to be dismantled, calling it an "utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas".
The announcement of the GHF's shutdown was met with sharply divided reactions. The foundation itself claimed a successful mission, with Executive Director John Acree stating it had "succeeded in our mission of showing there's a better way to deliver aid to Gazans" and that it delivered over 187 million meals. The US State Department thanked the GHF, with a spokesperson claiming its model "played a huge role in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire". In stark contrast, Hamas welcomed the closure. A Hamas spokesman stated the GHF should be held accountable for its "crimes against" Palestinians and had "engineered starvation" in partnership with Israel. The United Nations stated the shutdown would have "no impact" on its own aid operations, as they had never collaborated with the GHF.
The GHF had suspended its work in mid-October when a ceasefire took effect and US-backed aid distribution through the UN partially resumed. In its closure announcement, the GHF indicated that its model would be handed over to the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC), which is overseeing the ceasefire and aid delivery, suggesting the controversial approach may continue in a new form. The foundation's legacy remains one of profound controversy, and remains universally rejected by the established international humanitarian community.