Senior UN Official Condemns Hamas’ Obstruction of Humanitarian Aid Operations in Gaza
A senior United Nations official on Monday accused Hamas of obstructing humanitarian aid distribution operations in the Gaza Strip, describing it as a dangerous pattern of conduct that the movement has repeatedly adopted.
The UN official also accused Hamas of intimidating humanitarian workers, warning of the serious risks arising from such practices.
In a statement, Rames Alakbarov, the United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said he “strongly condemns” Hamas’ obstruction of humanitarian operations.
He added that the movement’s conduct “has endangered humanitarian personnel, intimidated those distributing life-saving food assistance, and disrupted critical humanitarian operations.”
Alakbarov also referred to an incident in which armed individuals believed to be affiliated with Hamas reportedly stormed a food distribution center in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip.
He further stated that the armed men “also entered a warehouse belonging to the World Food Programme and, according to reports, assaulted the drivers of two trucks transporting humanitarian assistance.”
The UN official stressed that these incidents “are not isolated,” but rather reflect “an escalation in intimidation, violence, and obstruction of humanitarian work, including attempts to divert assistance, target relief operations, and misuse humanitarian activities.” He warned that such actions hinder the delivery of life-saving aid at a time when civilians throughout the Gaza Strip are enduring extremely severe humanitarian conditions.
For its part, an official from the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior in Gaza rejected the allegations, stating that they were “entirely unfounded.”
The official said that police and security personnel “continue to protect aid convoys and distribution centers while facilitating the work of international and humanitarian organizations” throughout the Gaza Strip.
The statement comes after Hamas announced last week the dissolution of the Government Emergency Committee responsible for administering Gaza, following two decades in power.
Nevertheless, Hamas continues to maintain control over parts of the Gaza Strip despite the expansion of the Israeli military occupation to more than 60 percent of the Palestinian territory.
For several months, efforts to advance the United States ceasefire plan for Gaza have stalled. Meanwhile, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza remains in Cairo, as Israel has not yet approved its entry into the enclave.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was reached in October following a two-year war that erupted after the movement’s attack on Israel in October 2023.
Israel insists on the complete disarmament of Hamas before any political transition can begin, while Hamas refuses to relinquish its weapons without guarantees that an alternative Palestinian governing authority will assume responsibility for administering the Gaza Strip.
On the ground, Israel continues to carry out near-regular strikes across the Gaza Strip, more than 60 percent of which remains under Israeli military occupation, resulting in additional casualties, injuries, and widespread destruction despite the ceasefire, while the severe humanitarian crisis persists.
Since the ceasefire entered into force on 10 October, at least 1,098 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Ministry of Health. During the same period, the Israeli military reported the deaths of five soldiers and one civilian contractor.
