UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov accused Hamas of disrupting humanitarian aid operations in Gaza by forcibly entering a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Jabalia on July 11 and assaulting two truck drivers, forcing aid workers to halt food distribution there [1, 2, 3, 4]. Alakbarov said, "These incidents are not isolated. They are completely unacceptable and reflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction, including smuggling attempts, targeting and abusing humanitarian operations" [1].
The incident involved armed men affiliated with Hamas who halted operations and assaulted personnel, according to multiple UN and aid sources [1, 2, 3, 4]. The UN official warned that Hamas’s actions endanger humanitarian staff and delay life-saving assistance amid Gaza's severe humanitarian conditions [1, 2, 3, 4]. Israeli forces control over 60% of Gaza and most access points, while Hamas controls the remaining parts despite a ceasefire reached in October 2025 and stalled disarmament talks [1, 3, 4].
Hamas denied the accusations, saying the event was an official police operation targeting smuggling of cigarettes and mobile phone parts hidden inside aid shipments rather than an obstruction. A Hamas statement said, "The incident at the World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution center in the Abu Rashid area of Jabalia Refugee Camp was neither a 'raid,' an 'attack,' nor an 'obstruction' of humanitarian work, as falsely claimed" [1]. Hamas added police continue to protect aid workers and facilitate humanitarian efforts [4].
Israel's civilian affairs body, COGAT, said the event shows Hamas exploits humanitarian aid for its own purposes [4]. The disagreement highlights sharply different accounts of Hamas’s role at the food distribution point [1, 2, 4].
The Gaza humanitarian situation deteriorated significantly after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,100 Israelis and took about 240 hostages, triggering war [1, 2]. Since the ceasefire in October 2025, at least 1,098 Palestinians have died from ongoing violence, and Israel has lost 5 soldiers and 1 civilian contractor in Gaza [3].
The UN’s accusations on July 11 add to concerns about the obstacles humanitarian groups face delivering aid in Gaza. Talks on disarmament and enforcement of the ceasefire remain stalled [3, 4].
