The United Nations has publicly acknowledged that members of Hamas who are part of Gaza's governing authorities disrupted humanitarian aid operations, a statement confirming longstanding Israeli claims that the terrorist organization has interfered with the delivery of aid inside the enclave.
In remarks delivered Sunday, Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said armed individuals "affiliated with the de facto authorities" stormed a food distribution site in northern Gaza on Saturday before entering a World Food Programme warehouse.
According to Alakbarov, the armed men "reportedly assaulted two truck drivers who were delivering humanitarian supplies." The incident forced humanitarian organizations to suspend food distributions, he said.
Alakbarov twice attributed the incident to the enclave's "de facto authorities." Hamas has governed Gaza since seizing control of the territory in 2007.
The UN official said the latest incident was part of a broader trend. "The incidents involving the de facto authorities are not isolated," Alakbarov said, adding that they "reflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction, including smuggling attempts, targeting and abusing humanitarian operations."
The statement marks one of the clearest acknowledgments by the UN that armed actors associated with Gaza's governing authorities have interfered with humanitarian operations, after years of disputes over Israeli allegations that Hamas systematically diverted aid intended for civilians.
While condemning the interference, Alakbarov also criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Israeli military continues operating in parts of Gaza as international mediators pursue a ceasefire agreement that includes Hamas disarmament.
For much of the war, UN officials have downplayed or ignored the problem, and when acknowledging it, attributed aid theft and diversion to desperate civilians or local armed gangs rather than Hamas.
Following Alakbarov's remarks, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, argued that the UN had finally acknowledged what Israel has maintained throughout the conflict. "After years of denial and turning a blind eye, the UN is finally saying what Israel has warned all along: Hamas is intimidating aid workers, seizing humanitarian supplies, and disrupting food distribution in Gaza," Danon wrote on X.
"These are not isolated incidents. They are a pattern."
"Hamas is the obstacle to humanitarian aid. Hamas is the obstacle to peace. Hamas must disarm. Now."
Former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy also reacted to the UN's statement, writing on X: "Finally, after nearly three years, the UN admits what Israel was warning: Hamas is hijacking aid."
In remarks delivered Sunday, Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said armed individuals "affiliated with the de facto authorities" stormed a food distribution site in northern Gaza on Saturday before entering a World Food Programme warehouse.
According to Alakbarov, the armed men "reportedly assaulted two truck drivers who were delivering humanitarian supplies." The incident forced humanitarian organizations to suspend food distributions, he said.
Alakbarov twice attributed the incident to the enclave's "de facto authorities." Hamas has governed Gaza since seizing control of the territory in 2007.
The UN official said the latest incident was part of a broader trend. "The incidents involving the de facto authorities are not isolated," Alakbarov said, adding that they "reflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction, including smuggling attempts, targeting and abusing humanitarian operations."
The statement marks one of the clearest acknowledgments by the UN that armed actors associated with Gaza's governing authorities have interfered with humanitarian operations, after years of disputes over Israeli allegations that Hamas systematically diverted aid intended for civilians.
While condemning the interference, Alakbarov also criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Israeli military continues operating in parts of Gaza as international mediators pursue a ceasefire agreement that includes Hamas disarmament.
For much of the war, UN officials have downplayed or ignored the problem, and when acknowledging it, attributed aid theft and diversion to desperate civilians or local armed gangs rather than Hamas.
Following Alakbarov's remarks, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, argued that the UN had finally acknowledged what Israel has maintained throughout the conflict. "After years of denial and turning a blind eye, the UN is finally saying what Israel has warned all along: Hamas is intimidating aid workers, seizing humanitarian supplies, and disrupting food distribution in Gaza," Danon wrote on X.
"These are not isolated incidents. They are a pattern."
"Hamas is the obstacle to humanitarian aid. Hamas is the obstacle to peace. Hamas must disarm. Now."
Former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy also reacted to the UN's statement, writing on X: "Finally, after nearly three years, the UN admits what Israel was warning: Hamas is hijacking aid."
