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The controversial, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announces it is winding down its aid operations in the Gaza region, after almost six months.

The foundation had previously halted its three food distribution sites in Gaza after the halt in hostilities between Palestinian factions and Israel was implemented recently.

The organization attempted to circumvent United Nations channels as the chief distributor of aid to Gaza's population.

UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its approach, saying it was improper and dangerous.

Many residents were lost their lives while trying to acquire nourishment amid disorderly situations near GHF's sites, mainly through Israeli military action, as reported by United Nations.

Israeli authorities stated its soldiers fired warning shots.

Mission Completion

The organization declared on recently that it was winding down operations now because of the "successful completion of its humanitarian effort", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals provided to residents.

The GHF's executive director, the foundation leader, additionally stated the United States-operated coordination body - which has been set up to help implement the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "implementing and enlarging the approach the organization demonstrated".

"GHF's model, in which Palestinian factions were unable to divert and benefit from humanitarian assistance, played a huge role in convincing militant groups to participate and securing a halt in hostilities."

Reactions and Responses

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - welcomed the closure of the GHF, based on information.

An official from declared the organization should be made responsible for the damage it inflicted to Gazans.

"We request all worldwide humanitarian bodies to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after causing the death and injury of numerous Palestinians and concealing the food deprivation strategy employed by the Israeli authorities."

Organization Timeline

The foundation started work in Gaza on late May, a seven days following Israel had partially eased a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that persisted for nearly three months and caused severe shortages of vital resources.

Subsequently, a nutritional emergency was proclaimed in the Palestinian urban center.

The foundation's nourishment distribution centers in the southern and middle regions of Gaza were operated by US private security contractors and located inside areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Relief Agency Issues

The UN and its partners claimed the methodology violated the core assistance standards of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and that guiding distressed residents into military-controlled areas was inherently unsafe.

United Nations human rights division stated it documented the fatalities of no fewer than 859 Gazans attempting to obtain nourishment in the vicinity of GHF sites between 26 May and 31 July.

A further 514 persons were fatally wounded around the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it further stated.

The greater part of these people were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, based on the agency's reports.

Conflicting Accounts

Israel's armed services stated its forces had released alerting fire at persons who advanced toward them in a "menacing" manner.

The organization declared there were no shootings at the distribution centers and accused the UN of using "untrue and confusing" figures from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Subsequent Developments

The GHF's future had been indefinite since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a ceasefire deal to implement the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

It said relief provision would take place "without interference from the involved factions through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the humanitarian medical organization, in addition to other worldwide bodies not connected in any way" with Hamas and Israel.

International organization official the UN spokesman stated recently that the foundation's closure would have "no influence" on its operations "because we never worked with them".

He also said that while more aid was getting into Gaza since the halt in hostilities began on early October, it was "insufficient to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million population.