Feb. 4, 2009
The UN, after blaming Israel for not letting aid through, albeit unapproved aid, is now accusing Hamas police of raiding a UN aid warehouse in Gaza City on Tuesday and snatched 3,500 blankets and hundreds of food parcels.
According to a UN statement: "This took place after UNRWA staff had earlier refused to hand over the aid supplies to the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs. The police subsequently broke into the warehouse and seized the aid by force. The aid was due to be distributed to five hundred families in the area. UNRWA condemns in the strongest terms the confiscation of its aid supplies and has demanded that it is returned immediately."
Obviously Gazans are in need of aid after Israel's three-week military offensive against Hamas. Gunness also said Wednesday this is the first time Hamas has seized UN aid. Er hmm. Not according to the Jordanians, but whatever.
Israeli officials have charged that the militant group routinely confiscates supplies meant for needy Gazans. But Israelis are biased, of course.
Isaac Herzog, responsible for the humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, called the robbing of UN warehouses by Hamas “further proof that Hamas is continuing to make life miserable for the population of Gaza and will use any means to intensify its suffering.”
Israel insists that humanitarian assistance transferred to the Gaza Strip go to the civilian population only, without allowing Hamas to benefit from it. Herzog noted that Israel allowed aid trucks through even while under fire.
Hamas had no comment.
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