Hamas Denies US Claims of Aid Truck Looting as Fabricated Incident

Hamas has firmly rejected allegations from the United States suggesting that its members looted an aid truck in Gaza, calling the claims “fabricated” and part of a broader narrative aimed at justifying restrictions on humanitarian aid. In a statement issued on Sunday, the group characterized the allegations as “baseless and unfounded,” insisting that no such looting incident occurred.

The controversy began when the United States Central Command (Centcom) released video footage allegedly showing individuals looting an aid truck in northern Khan Younis. Centcom claimed that “suspected Hamas operatives” attacked the truck’s driver and stole the vehicle, but did not provide additional evidence linking the individuals to Hamas. The authenticity of the footage, reportedly captured by a US MQ-9 drone, remains unverified, and Middle East Eye was unable to confirm the time or location of the incident.

Hamas argued that neither international nor local organizations, including aid convoy workers, had reported any such incident. The group also highlighted that other mediators and international bodies that it deemed “more neutral and credible” than the US had not observed anything resembling the claims made by Washington.

“The scene cited by Centcom is fabricated and staged to justify blockade policies and the reduction of aid,” Hamas stated. The Gaza-based Government Media Office echoed this sentiment, noting that the US claims contained “fundamental contradictions” and lacked specific details regarding the timing or location of the alleged looting.

In a pointed statement, the media office asked, “Where is Centcom regarding the daily crimes and assaults committed by the Israeli occupation since the ceasefire came into effect?” This reference highlights ongoing concerns over Israeli actions in Gaza, which have reportedly led to the deaths of more than 230 Palestinians since the ceasefire began.

Ramy Abdu, founder and chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, also questioned the validity of the US claims, citing the heavily edited nature of the video and the absence of supporting evidence. He noted that the area where the alleged looting occurred is close to Israeli military positions and associated militia groups.

Abdu further criticized Centcom for claiming that 600 trucks enter Gaza daily, asserting that documented reports indicate the actual number averages only about 145 trucks per day.

As the ceasefire, which began on October 11, 2023, reaches its first week, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reported that incidents of aid looting had “dropped dramatically” as Hamas reestablished security control in Gaza. Dujarric noted that trucks were now reaching warehouses “without any incidents,” suggesting improved conditions for aid delivery.

The ongoing exchange between Hamas and Centcom underscores the complexities of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the flow of aid remains a contentious issue amid broader geopolitical tensions.