A senior United Nations official has accused Hamas of obstructing humanitarian aid operations in Gaza and intimidating relief workers, warning that the group's actions are making the delivery of life-saving assistance increasingly dangerous.
In a statement issued on Monday, United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov said he "strongly" condemned the obstruction of humanitarian operations by Gaza's de facto authorities, referring to Hamas.
He said Hamas's actions had "endangered humanitarian personnel, intimidated workers delivering life-saving food assistance and disrupted life-saving humanitarian operations".
According to the UN, armed men linked to Hamas forced their way into a food distribution point in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on Saturday. The statement added that the militants also entered a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and reportedly assaulted two truck drivers delivering humanitarian supplies.
Alakbarov said the incidents were "not isolated" and reflected "an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction, including smuggling attempts, targeting and abusing humanitarian operations".
He warned that such actions were disrupting the delivery of urgently needed aid as civilians across Gaza continued to face severe hardship.
The warning comes despite a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas in October after two years of war, triggered by the Palestinian group's unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
The second phase of the ceasefire, which was expected to include Hamas's disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, has remained stalled for months.
Israeli forces have expanded their presence in recent months and now control more than 60 per cent of Gaza. Hamas continues to exercise authority in the remaining areas, although it announced last week that it was dissolving its 15-member governing body, which had administered the territory for nearly two decades.
Violence has continued despite the ceasefire. Gaza's health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose casualty figures are regarded as reliable by the United Nations, says at least 1,098 Palestinians have been killed since the truce took effect. The Israeli military says five of its soldiers and one civilian contractor have also been killed in Gaza during the same period.
