UN Accuses Hamas of Assaulting Aid Workers in Gaza

United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov reported that armed men affiliated with Gaza's de facto authorities assaulted two truck drivers and invaded a World Food Programme warehouse at the Abu Rashid food distribution point in Jabalia on Saturday. Alakbarov characterized the event as part of an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence, and obstruction, including attempts to smuggle goods through humanitarian channels.

Hamas denied the allegations on Monday, asserting that its police were conducting a legitimate law enforcement operation to seize smuggled cigarettes and mobile phone components hidden in aid parcels. The group specifically disputed that the incident in the Jabalia Refugee Camp constituted a raid, attack, or obstruction of humanitarian work.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories condemned the assault, stating that Hamas cynically exploits humanitarian space for its own purposes. Meanwhile, NGO Monitor criticized the UN for failing to explicitly name Hamas in its initial condemnation while simultaneously criticizing Israel's expanding territorial control, which currently exceeds 60% of the Gaza Strip. Alakbarov maintained that such Israeli expansion further reduces the available space for civilians and threatens humanitarian access.