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The disputed, American and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) declares it is concluding its humanitarian work in the Gaza region, following nearly half a year.

The organisation had already suspended its three food distribution sites in Gaza following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was implemented six weeks ago.

The foundation sought to circumvent United Nations channels as the chief distributor of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

UN and other aid agencies would not collaborate with its approach, stating it was unethical and unsafe.

Hundreds of Palestinians were lost their lives while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near the foundation's locations, primarily from Israeli forces, based on UN documentation.

Israel said its soldiers fired cautionary rounds.

Mission Completion

The foundation announced on recently that it was concluding activities now because of the "successful completion of its emergency mission", with a aggregate of 3 million parcels containing the equivalent of more than 187 million meals delivered to Palestinians.

The GHF's executive director, Jon Acree, additionally stated the American-directed Civil-Military Coordination Center - which has been set up to help implement the United States' Palestinian peace proposal - would be "implementing and enlarging the system the foundation tested".

"The organization's system, in which Hamas could no longer loot and profit from stealing aid, had major impact in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and achieving a ceasefire."

Reactions and Responses

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - approved the termination of the aid organization, according to reports.

An official from stated the organization should be made responsible for the damage it inflicted to local residents.

"We call upon all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of many residents and covering up the food deprivation strategy practised by the Israel's administration."

Operational Background

The GHF began operations in Gaza on late May, a week after the Israeli government had moderately reduced a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and caused severe shortages of necessary provisions.

Subsequently, a nutritional emergency was proclaimed in the Gaza metropolitan area.

The GHF's food distribution sites in various parts of the Palestinian territory were operated by United States-based protection companies and located inside regions under Israeli military authority.

Humanitarian Concerns

International organizations and their affiliates said the approach violated the fundamental humanitarian principles of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that guiding distressed residents into militarised zones was fundamentally dangerous.

The UN's human rights office reported it tracked the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents attempting to obtain nourishment 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 further stated.

Most of them were fatally wounded by the Israeli military, according to the office.

Conflicting Accounts

The Israeli military said its troops had discharged cautionary rounds at individuals who came near them in a "threatening" fashion.

The GHF said there were no shooting events at the aid sites and accused the UN of using "untrue and confusing" statistics from the Gazan medical department controlled by militant factions.

Future Implications

The foundation's prospects had been indefinite since Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities consented a halt in hostilities arrangement to carry out the primary segment of the United States' reconciliation proposal.

It said humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the both sides through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

International organization official the UN spokesman declared this week that the GHF's shutdown would have "no influence" on its work "because we never worked with them".

He also said that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the halt in hostilities began on October 10th, it was "insufficient to address all necessities" of the 2.1 million residents.