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The disputed, US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) says it is terminating its aid operations in the Palestinian territory, following nearly half a year.

The foundation had earlier paused its three food distribution sites in Gaza following the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel came into force recently.

The foundation sought to avoid UN systems as the main supplier of humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

United Nations organizations and other humanitarian groups would not collaborate with its approach, stating it was improper and dangerous.

Many residents were fatally wounded while seeking food amid chaotic scenes near the organization's distribution points, primarily from Israeli forces, based on UN documentation.

Israel said its soldiers fired warning shots.

Program Termination

The foundation announced on Monday that it was winding down operations now because of the "effective conclusion of its emergency mission", with a total of three million packages containing the corresponding to over 187 million food portions provided to residents.

The foundation's chief officer, the executive director, also said the United States-operated coordination body - which has been created to help implement the American administration's Gaza initiative - would be "adopting and expanding the system the foundation tested".

"The organization's system, in which militant groups were prevented from misappropriating relief supplies, played a huge role in bringing Palestinian factions to negotiations and securing a halt in hostilities."

Feedback and Statements

The Palestinian faction - which refutes aid diversion claims - welcomed the closure of the humanitarian foundation, according to reports.

A representative of said GHF should be held accountable for the damage it inflicted to Gazans.

"We request all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after leading to casualties and wounds of many residents and covering up the food deprivation strategy implemented by the Israeli government."

Organization Timeline

The foundation started work in Gaza on May 26th, a week after Israel had partially eased a total blockade on humanitarian and trade shipments to Gaza that lasted 11 weeks and resulted in critical deficits of vital resources.

After 90 days, a famine was declared in the Gaza metropolitan area.

The organization's sustenance provision locations in southern and central Gaza were administered by United States-based protection companies and located inside Israeli military zones.

Humanitarian Concerns

The UN and its partners claimed the system breached the fundamental humanitarian principles of objectivity, fairness and autonomy, and that channelling desperate people into military-controlled areas was intrinsically hazardous.

The UN's human rights office stated it documented the deaths of a minimum of 859 residents attempting to obtain nourishment in the area surrounding organization centers between late May through end of July.

A further 514 persons were lost their lives close to the courses followed by international humanitarian deliveries, it added.

The majority of these individuals were lost their lives due to the Israeli military, based on the agency's reports.

Conflicting Accounts

Israeli defense forces stated its troops had fired warning shots at individuals who came near them in a "intimidating" way.

The foundation stated there were no shootings at the aid sites and claimed the international organization of using "false and misleading" data from the Palestinian health authority administered by Hamas.

Subsequent Developments

The foundation's prospects had been unclear since militant groups and the Israeli government approved a truce agreement to carry out the first phase of the American administration's peace initiative.

The arrangement specified humanitarian assistance would take place "absent meddling from the two parties through the international bodies and their affiliates, and the international relief society, in addition to other international institutions not linked whatsoever" with Palestinian factions and Israeli authorities.

United Nations representative the international body's communicator said on Monday that the GHF's shutdown would have "no impact" on its activities "as we never partnered with them".

The spokesperson additionally stated that while additional assistance was reaching the Palestinian territory since the truce was implemented on 10 October, it was "inadequate to satisfy all requirements" of the 2.1 million residents.