Some of the world’s largest charities and aid groups are calling for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, GHF, to be shut down, accusing the controversial aid distribution operation backed by the United States and Israel of using measures “designed to sustain a cycle of desperation, danger, and death.”

Charity and aid groups said in a joint statement that more than 500 Palestinians had been killed and almost 4,000 injured in less than four weeks while trying to access or distribute food in Gaza.

More than 170 non-governmental organisations called on Tuesday for a U.S.- and Israeli-backed food aid distribution scheme in Gaza to be dismantled over concerns it is putting civilians at risk of death and injury.