Controversial Gaza aid organisation halts operations after fatal shootings at hubs
A US humanitarian aid organisation backed by Israel, which is running several distribution hubs in Gaza has temporarily halted its operations, following days of fatal shootings into crowds heading towards its sites.
In a statement on Facebook, The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said entry to its centres would be "prohibited" on Wednesday, June 4, due to "efficiency improvement works".
This will involve working with Israel 's military to improve civilian safety, before operations resume on Thursday, it added.
At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in a spate of similar incidents across the past week, health officials in Gaza have said.
These include:
Sunday, June 1: At least 31 killed and more than 170 wounded after witnesses report Israeli forces opening fire on large crowds around one kilometre from the Rafah distribution hub.
Monday, June 2: Health authorities in Gaza say Israeli forces fired at people in the same location, killing at least three and wounding dozens.
Tuesday, June 3: Crowds were again fired on, killing at least 27 and injuring at least 184 according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. A spokesperson for the UN also confirmed these deaths.
Israel's military has denied opening fire on crowds of civilians - instead claiming it fired "warning shots" towards "suspects" on several occasions.
According to Palestinian witnesses, the heaviest shootings happened on Tuesday and Sunday at the Flag Roundabout, around a kilometre from the Rafah hub, where crowds amassed through the night ahead of its 5am opening.
The GHF began operations on May 26, and is made up of former humanitarian, government and military officials, mostly from the US.
It is backed by Israel, who have sought an alternative to the UN-led aid distrbution system, claiming Hamas are siphoning aid from civilians, something the UN disputes.
However, the GHF has been accused of "weaponising aid", by giving Israel the power to choose who receives aid and forcing Gaza's population to move towards where it is being distributed.
All hubs are currently found in southern and central Gaza, currently sparsely populated - with no hubs in the north of the territory.
The GHF began operating amid warnings of all-out famine, after a months-long blockade which prevented humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.
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