Gaza Humanitarian Foundation prepares to resume aid deliveries under US-brokered ceasefire, with trucks loaded and awaiting deployment orders.
JERUSALEM: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) stands ready to resume aid shipments to Palestinian civilians under the US-brokered ceasefire.
The American non-profit organisation told AFP on Saturday it has paused operations during the initial ceasefire phase while Israeli hostages were released.
GHF spokesman Chapin Fay confirmed the foundation awaits orders to restart its humanitarian mission.
“While the situation remains fluid on the ground, GHF has been instructed to remain ready to re-engage and specifically not to take any actions that would preclude us from resuming operations immediately,” Fay said.
“GHF has trucks of aid loaded up and ready to resume delivering aid directly to the Palestinian people, including women, children and the elderly,” he added.
“Our mission will evolve to meet the needs on the ground.”
The US and Israeli-backed private organisation was tasked with feeding Gazans in May after Israel restricted international agencies.
UN experts and traditional aid agencies criticised GHF’s work throughout its operations.
Hundreds of Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid at GHF distribution sites according to the UN human rights office.
United Nations special rapporteurs called for the foundation to be disbanded in August.
A UN-mandated expert panel alleged that under GHF, aid was “exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas”.
The foundation operated just four distribution centres in Gaza compared to the UN system’s 400 locations it replaced.
GHF confirmed its secured distribution site in Khan Yunis had been dismantled after Hamas released remaining living hostages on October 13.
Hamas and Israel signed the US-backed ceasefire and prisoner exchange plan two weeks ago.
International mediators hope this initial phase will lead to ending the war and beginning reconstruction. – AFP
