The United Nations has accused Hamas of disrupting humanitarian aid operations in the Gaza Strip, warning that the alleged interference is making conditions even more difficult for civilians already struggling through the ongoing conflict.
In a statement issued late Sunday, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov said humanitarian activities were temporarily suspended on Saturday after armed men entered a food distribution centre in northern Gaza and assaulted two truck drivers at a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse.
Alakbarov described the incident as part of a growing pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction affecting humanitarian operations. He said aid workers are increasingly being placed at risk while attempts to deliver life-saving assistance continue to face serious challenges.
According to the UN official, repeated incidents involving alleged smuggling attempts and interference with relief efforts are restricting the ability of humanitarian organisations to operate at a time when the people of Gaza are facing severe humanitarian hardship.
Hamas, however, rejected the allegations on Monday, insisting the incident had been misrepresented. In a statement, the group’s media office said police officers were carrying out a law enforcement operation after receiving reports that cigarettes and mobile phone components had been hidden inside aid packages.
The group denied that the operation amounted to a raid, attack or obstruction of humanitarian work, maintaining that the action was part of efforts to prevent smuggling rather than disrupt aid distribution.
The latest dispute comes more than two and a half years after the Gaza war erupted following Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. Much of the Palestinian territory has since been left devastated by the conflict.
Israeli military operations have displaced nearly the entire population of around two million people, with many now living in tents or damaged buildings across the enclave. Israeli forces continue to control more than 60 per cent of Gaza, including all major access points.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire, which include proposals for Hamas to disarm and for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza, have remained stalled for months, leaving the humanitarian crisis unresolved.
