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The controversial, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is winding down its relief activities in the Palestinian territory, following nearly half a year.

The foundation had previously halted its multiple aid distribution centers in Gaza subsequent to the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel came into force six weeks ago.

The organization attempted to bypass the UN as the primary provider of relief to Palestinian residents.

International relief agencies refused to co-operate with its system, claiming it was unethical and unsafe.

Hundreds of Palestinians were lost their lives while seeking food amid turbulent circumstances near the organization's distribution points, mainly through Israeli military action, according to the UN.

The Israeli military claimed its forces fired warning shots.

Program Termination

The organization declared on Monday that it was concluding activities now because of the "successful completion of its crisis response", with a cumulative three million shipments containing the amounting to in excess of 187 million sustenance units provided to residents.

The foundation's chief officer, the executive director, also said the United States-operated coordination body - which has been set up to help execute the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted".

"GHF's model, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, was significantly influential in getting Hamas to the table and achieving a ceasefire."

Comments and Positions

Hamas - which denies stealing aid - supported the shutdown of the aid organization, as indicated by media.

An official from said the foundation should be made responsible for the negative impact it created to Gazans.

"We request all global human rights groups to guarantee that responsibility is assigned after leading to casualties and wounds of numerous Palestinians and concealing the starvation policy practised by the Israeli government."

Operational Background

The organization commenced activities in Gaza on 26 May, a seven days following Israeli authorities had somewhat relaxed a total blockade on relief and commercial goods to Gaza that continued for 77 days and caused severe shortages of vital resources.

Three months later, a famine was declared in the Palestinian urban center.

The GHF's food distribution sites in various parts of the Palestinian territory were administered by US private security contractors and located inside regions under Israeli military authority.

Humanitarian Concerns

International organizations and their affiliates claimed the approach contravened the fundamental humanitarian principles of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that directing needy individuals into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.

United Nations human rights division said it recorded the killing of at least 859 Palestinians attempting to obtain nourishment in the area surrounding organization centers between spring and summer months.

A further 514 persons were fatally wounded around the paths taken by United Nations and additional relief shipments, it added.

Most of them were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, as per the organization's documentation.

Contrasting Reports

The Israeli military claimed its soldiers had released alerting fire at individuals who came near them in a "menacing" fashion.

The GHF said there were no shooting events at the aid sites and accused the UN of using "inaccurate and deceptive" data from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Ongoing Situation

The organization's continuation had been indefinite since Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire deal to execute the first phase of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

The agreement stated humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the international relief society, in conjunction with other worldwide bodies not associated in any manner" with militant groups and the Israeli government.

International organization official Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that the GHF's shutdown would have "zero effect" on its activities "since we never collaborated with them".

He also said that while increased relief was entering the region since the truce was implemented on October 10th, it was "insufficient to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.