UN Official Accuses Hamas of Hindering Aid Operations in Gaza
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GAZA (Terror Monitor) — A senior United Nations official on Monday accused Hamas of obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries in Gaza and intimidating aid workers, warning that the group's actions were making relief operations increasingly dangerous.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas continues to maintain control over parts of Gaza, while Israeli forces have expanded their presence across more than 60 percent of the territory.
Ramesh Rajasingham, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, named Hamas in a statement and said he "strongly condemns" what he described as interference by the de facto authorities in Gaza with humanitarian operations.
He said Hamas' actions had "endangered humanitarian personnel, intimidated workers delivering life-saving food assistance, and disrupted critical humanitarian operations."
According to the UN statement, armed individuals allegedly linked to Hamas forcibly entered a food distribution site in Jabalia in northern Gaza on Saturday. The statement added that militants also entered a World Food Programme warehouse and allegedly assaulted two truck drivers who were delivering humanitarian supplies.
Rajasingham said the incidents were "not isolated" and reflected a "dangerous pattern" involving intimidation, violence, obstruction, smuggling attempts, targeting, and the exploitation of humanitarian aid operations.
He warned that such actions were disrupting the delivery of life-saving assistance at a time when civilians across Gaza were facing severe hardship.
A Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry official in Gaza rejected the allegations, calling them baseless.
"This is a fabricated accusation. The police and security forces continue to protect aid trucks and distribution centers and facilitate the work of international and humanitarian organizations," the official told AFP.
He added that security forces would not allow any attacks against humanitarian workers.
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