Gaza Aid Crisis
UN Accuses Hamas of Obstructing Gaza Aid Deliveries Amid Rising Dangers
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Key Points
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Hamas claimed the World Food Programme distribution centre was not attacked but was the site of an 'official law-enforcement operation' to uncover smuggling inside humanitarian parcels, including cigarettes and mobile phone screens.
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A Hamas-run interior ministry official told AFP that police and security forces continue to protect aid trucks and distribution centres and will not allow attacks on humanitarian workers.
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COGAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry body in charge of civilian matters in the Palestinian territories, issued a sharp rebuke of Hamas over the latest obstruction of aid.
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The Jabalia incident involved armed men forcing their way into a food distribution point on July 11 and entering a World Food Programme warehouse, with reports that two truck drivers were assaulted.
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Several reports note that more than 60% of Gaza remains under expanded Israeli military presence, underscoring the challenging context for humanitarian access.
The United Nations has accused Hamas of obstructing food deliveries in Gaza and putting aid workers in danger. A senior UN official, Ramiz Alakbarov, described "an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction" targeting humanitarian operations, according to Times of Israel.
The flashpoint was Jabalia, where armed men forced their way into a food distribution point on July 11. Two truck drivers were assaulted, and a World Food Programme warehouse was entered by force. Hamas denied any wrongdoing, calling the incident an authorized law-enforcement operation, Al Jazeera reported.
Armed Men Storm Jabalia Food Site on July 11
Aid workers were forced to stop food distribution after armed men pushed into the Jabalia distribution point. The men then entered a nearby World Food Programme warehouse. Two truck drivers were attacked during the incident, according to The Media Line.
Alakbarov warned that Hamas's actions were making relief work nearly impossible. He said the group's behavior endangered the lives of humanitarian staff. The UN called on all parties to protect aid workers and allow deliveries to reach civilians in urgent need.
Hamas Claims Police Were Stopping Smuggling, Not Aid
Hamas flatly rejected the UN's account. A Hamas-run interior ministry official told Al Jazeera that police and security forces "continue to protect aid trucks and distribution centres" and would not allow attacks on humanitarian workers.
Hamas said the WFP centre was not attacked at all. Instead, officials claimed it was the site of an official law-enforcement operation to uncover smuggling hidden inside humanitarian parcels — including cigarettes and mobile phone screens. Hamas said this was done to protect the "independence, integrity, and neutrality" of aid work, according to Newsy Today.
Israel's COGAT Condemns Hamas Over Aid Blockage
Israel's COGAT — the Defense Ministry body that manages civilian affairs in Palestinian territories — issued a sharp rebuke of Hamas over the latest obstruction. COGAT accused Hamas of deliberately blocking aid from reaching Gaza's civilians, Yahoo News reported.
More than 60% of Gaza is now under expanded Israeli military presence. That already makes aid delivery extremely difficult. The UN says Hamas's interference on top of ongoing military operations creates a near-impossible situation for relief workers trying to reach starving civilians.
Civilians Caught Between Military Operations and Aid Chaos
Gaza's humanitarian situation remains severe. Aid organizations are trying to feed a population cut off by war, blockades, and now internal obstruction. The UN says every disrupted delivery puts lives at risk. With most of Gaza under Israeli military control, aid corridors are already narrow and fragile, according to Al Jazeera.
The dispute over who is responsible for protecting aid delivery remains unresolved. Hamas says its forces safeguard trucks. The UN says the evidence points the other way. Until that gap closes, civilians face the consequences — with no clear end in sight.
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