UN official accuses Hamas of obstructing aid distribution in Gaza

A UN official accused Hamas of obstructing aid distribution in the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The UN's humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories stated that armed men entered a food distribution point in northern Gaza on Saturday, assaulting two truck drivers in a UN World Food Programme warehouse. UN Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov called these incidents "completely unacceptable and reflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction." Hamas denied the allegations, stating that police were conducting a law enforcement operation regarding smuggled goods concealed in aid parcels, and that the incident was not an "attack" or "obstruction" of humanitarian work.