Israel Accuses Hamas of Holding Up Aid Trucks

Jerusalem, 13 December, 2023 (TPS) -- Israel accused Hamas of holding up humanitarian aid trucks at the Rafah crossing on Wednesday morning.

“Humanitarian aid trucks wait more than an hour and a half outside the Rafah crossing, waiting for the Palestinian side in Gaza to open,” wrote Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the Israel Defense Forces’ Arabic spokesman on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Residents of Gaza, why does aid not reach you? Hamas does not care about the residents of the Gaza Strip,” Adraee added.

Palestinians in Gaza have told the Tazpit Press Service that the Strip is descending into anarchy as fear of Hamas and the terror group’s ability to rule have crumbled.

Residents described to TPS widespread looting of food rations and medicines delivered from Arab countries through the Rafah border crossing. In particular, trucks are hijacked by armed Hamas operatives or criminals, who then sell the aid themselves.

There are also reports of black markets in the hundreds of shelters where Palestinians are staying, where food and medicine is sold.

In southern Gaza, dozens of kitchens have opened on the sidewalks where volunteers distribute hot food to displaced Palestinians. Gas cylinders for cooking are in short supply after large numbers were stolen by Hamas operatives, sources told TPS.

At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on Oct. 7. Hamas currently holds 137 men, women, children, soldiers and foreigners captive in Gaza. Some people remain unaccounted for as Israeli authorities continue to identify bodies and search for human remains.