Hamas rejects US accusation it looted aid trucks in Gaza

Hamas has refuted claims made by US Central Command (CENTCOM) that it looted aid trucks in the Gaza Strip.

An aid truck allegedly targeted the enclave in a drone footage that CENTCOM had released. The drone reported that on October 31 suspected Hamas operatives allegedly looted the truck as it traveled with a humanitarian convoy in northern Khan Younis, according to a statement.

Hamas claimed on Sunday that the accusations made by the United States were “unfounded” and were “part of an attempt to justify the further reduction of already-limited humanitarian aid, while concealing the failure of the international community to put an end to the blockade and hunger imposed on civilians in Gaza.”

“All instances of chaos and looting ended with the [Israeli] occupying forces’ withdrawal, demonstrating that the occupation was the only organization that supported these gangs and organized the chaos,” it continued.

Hamas claimed that in an effort to protect humanitarian aid convoys and ensure that aid is delivered to those in need, more than 1, 000 Palestinian police and security personnel lost their lives and injured hundreds.

No one working with the aid convoys, nor any of the international or local organizations, was cited in the report or complaint about Hamas’ looting.

This clearly demonstrates that the scene that the US Central Command has cited serves only to justify blockade measures and the reduction of humanitarian aid, according to the statement. The US is also accused of failing to adequately account for the ongoing Israeli attacks that resulted from the ceasefire agreement, which resulted in the deaths of 254 Palestinians and 595 wounded.

The MQ-9 aerial drone was flying over the Israeli-Hamas border to check the implementation of the ceasefire, according to CENTCOM.

“Over 600 trucks full of commercial goods and aid have been delivered to Gaza daily by international partners over the past week,” said the statement. These efforts are undermined by this incident, the statement read.

Despite our repeated requests to increase the number of humanitarian aid trucks and reduce commercial shipments, Hamas claimed that the average number of aid trucks entering Gaza daily is not more than 135. The rest are commercial trucks carrying goods that the population of Gaza cannot afford.

The US’s use of the Israeli narrative only serves to reinforce Washington’s moral bias, according to the statement.

Under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, the ceasefire became effective on October 10.

In exchange for nearly 2, 000 Palestinian prisoners, the captives are released in phase one of the agreement. Additionally, the plan envisages the establishment of a new Hamas-unfriendly governing structure and the reconstruction of Gaza.