A former security contractor for Gaza's controversial new Israel- and US-backed aid distribution sites has told the BBC that he witnessed colleagues opening fire several times on hungry Palestinians who had posed no threat, including with machine guns.

The U.K.-based human rights group condemned Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which the U.S. and Israel have backed to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a network led by the United Nations.

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,

Hamas says it is consulting other Palestinian groups before giving a formal response to the latest proposal for a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal put forward by the US. President Donald Trump said on Friday morning that expected to know within 24 hours whether Hamas has agreed to the plan.

Hamas said it is seeking an end to the war and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid as it is expected to announce a decision on a new U.S. ceasefire proposal to which U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed.