Hamas rejects the UN’s accusations in the Gaza conflict Gaza News

The UN accuses Hamas of blocking aid and endangering the safety of workers, but the group denies and defends its actions.

The United Nations chief has accused Hamas of obstructing humanitarian efforts in Gaza and putting aid workers at risk, a charge the Palestinian Authority denies.

“Humanitarian workers were forced to stop the distribution of food after armed workers affiliated with the government authorities forcibly entered the food distribution center in Abu Rashid in Jabalia, North Gaza,” UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov said in a statement. words on Monday.

He said armed men entered the warehouse of the World Food Program (WFP) and assaulted two truck drivers carrying humanitarian aid.

Alakbarov said “these incidents are not unusual” and “show a dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and blockades, including attempted smuggling, surveillance and misuse of humanitarian services”.

Hamas, which controls parts of Gaza, strongly denied the charges.

“We categorically reject inflammatory language, distortions of facts, and fabricated stories presented in the text,” the group said. words.

The group said the WFP distribution center was not attacked or attacked but was a “law enforcement” operation after contraband was found “hidden in humanitarian aid packages”.

It also said that a group of Palestinian police uncovered efforts to use aid groups to smuggle cigarettes and mobile phones for commercial purposes.

The group said: “The police have taken action in this matter with the government’s reliable approach which aimed to protect freedom, integrity, and neutrality in helping the people.

The UN chief warned that the actions of Hamas continue to hinder the delivery of life-saving aid at a time when civilians across Gaza are facing serious problems.

Palestinians in Gaza continue to live in humanitarian conditions following Israel’s civil war and severe restrictions on aid delivery. Israel launched the war in October 2023 after Hamas-led militias attacked areas in southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people and injuring nearly 240 others.

In October last year, the two sides agreed to a “ceasefire” by the US, which Israel has continuously violated. Although the fighting has subsided, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,500 injured since the “ceasefire” went into effect. At least four Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

Altogether, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.

Negotiations on moving to the second phase of the US plan to end the war have been stalled for months. According to the plan, Hamas must disarm and Israel must withdraw its troops from Gaza. Nothing has happened. Israel has instead expanded the area under its control to over 60 percent of Gaza, compared to the 53 percent specified in the first phase of the agreement.