JERUSALEM: A controversial US- and Israel-backed company that provided aid to Gaza said Monday it would shutter operations. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation had already closed distribution sites after a US-brokered ceasefire took effect six weeks ago in Gaza. It announced Monday that it was permanently shutting down, claiming it had fulfilled its mission. “We have succeeded in our mission of showing there’s a better way to deliver aid to Gazans,” GHF director John Acree said in a statement. The operations of the GHF were shrouded in secrecy during its short time in operation.

GHF had already closed distribution sites after a US-brokered ceasefire took effect six weeks ago in Gaza.

Rights observers have condemned aid scheme for bypassing UN, deadly attacks at distribution sites.