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The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza relief foundation declares it is concluding its aid operations in the Palestinian territory, after almost six months.

The organisation had previously halted its several relief locations in Gaza subsequent to the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel took effect in recent weeks.

The foundation sought to circumvent United Nations channels as the main supplier of relief to Palestinian residents.

International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its approach, claiming it was improper and dangerous.

Hundreds of Palestinians were killed while seeking food amid disorderly situations near the organization's distribution points, mainly through Israeli military action, according to the UN.

Israel said its soldiers fired warning shots.

Program Termination

The organization declared on Monday that it was terminating work now because of the "satisfactory fulfillment of its crisis response", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions distributed to Gazans.

The GHF's executive director, Jon Acree, additionally stated the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) - which has been established to help implement the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "taking over and developing the system the foundation tested".

"The foundation's approach, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, played a huge role in getting Hamas to the table and securing a halt in hostilities."

Comments and Positions

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - approved the termination of the humanitarian foundation, as indicated by media.

A representative of stated GHF should be held accountable for the harm it caused to local residents.

"We call upon all global human rights groups to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of many residents and covering up the starvation policy employed by the Israeli authorities."

Operational Background

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on late May, a short period subsequent to Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a total blockade on aid and commercial deliveries to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and resulted in critical deficits of essential supplies.

Three months later, a nutritional emergency was proclaimed in Gaza City.

The GHF's food distribution sites in various parts of the Palestinian territory were managed by United States-based protection companies and situated within areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Humanitarian Concerns

United Nations agencies and their collaborators claimed the methodology breached the core assistance standards of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that channelling desperate people into armed forces regions was fundamentally dangerous.

The UN's human rights office stated it documented the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents trying to acquire sustenance in the proximity to foundation locations between 26 May and 31 July.

Another 514 people were killed near the routes of UN and other aid convoys, it added.

The greater part of these people were killed by the Israeli military, as per the organization's documentation.

Conflicting Accounts

Israel's armed services claimed its forces had fired warning shots at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" manner.

The organization declared there were no shooting events at the relief locations and alleged that United Nations of using "untrue and confusing" figures from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been unclear since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a halt in hostilities arrangement to implement the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

The arrangement specified humanitarian assistance would take place "free from intervention from the two parties through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the humanitarian medical organization, in conjunction with other worldwide bodies not connected in any way" with Hamas and Israel.

UN spokesperson the UN spokesman stated recently that the GHF's shutdown would have "no influence" on its operations "since we never collaborated with them".

The official further mentioned that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "inadequate to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million population.