The UN accuses Hamas of obstructing aid and endangering the safety of workers, but the group denies this and defends its actions.<\/b><\/p>\n
Written by: Al Jazeera staff<\/i><\/p>\n
A UN official has accused Hamas of obstructing humanitarian operations in Gaza and putting aid workers at risk - a charge the Palestinian group rejects.<\/p>\n
\u201eHumanitarian workers were forced to halt food distribution after gunmen linked to the de facto authorities forcibly entered the Abu Rashid food distribution point in Jalaliyah, northern Gaza,\u201d Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN\u2019s deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said in a statement on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said the gunmen broke into the World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and assaulted two truck drivers who were delivering humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n
According to Alakbarov, \u201ethese incidents are not isolated\u201d and \u201ereflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction, including smuggling attempts and the targeting and abuse of humanitarian operations.\u201d.<\/p>\n
Hamas, which controls parts of Gaza, has strongly denied the allegations.<\/p>\n
\u201eWe categorically reject the language of incitement, distortion of facts, and fabricated narrative presented in the statement,\u201d the group said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The group said the WFP distribution center was not attacked or raided, but was the site of an \u201eofficial law enforcement operation\u201d carried out after contraband was discovered \u201ehidden in humanitarian aid packages.\u201d.<\/p>\n
They added that a unit of the Palestinian police had uncovered an attempt to use humanitarian convoys to smuggle cigarettes and mobile phone displays for commercial purposes.<\/p>\n
\u201eThe police intervention in this incident was a responsible government action, with the fundamental aim of preserving the independence, integrity and neutrality of humanitarian action,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n
The UN official warned that Hamas's actions continue to hinder the delivery of life-saving aid at a time when civilians across Gaza are facing severe hardship.<\/p>\n