UN: Hamas seized food and blankets from needy Gazans

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

Well they hide behind women and children when fighting so this is not a surprise.

…
A United Nation spokesman on Wednesday accused Hamas police in Gaza Strip of seizing thousands of blankets and food parcels meant for needy residents.

Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the UN’s Relief and Works Agency, said Hamas police raided a UN warehouse in Gaza City late Tuesday, snatching 3,500 blankets and over 400 food parcels.

“Members of the Hamas police seized by force 3,500 blankets and 406 food packages ready to be delivered to hundreds of poor Gaza families,” the statement said.

Hamas and its security forces have administered and controlled the Gaza Strip since June 2007, when they routed security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

But UNRWA has refused to hand the humanitarian aid it has received to the Hamas-ruled ministry of social welfare. The aid is especially vital now because Gazans are facing hardship after Israel’s three-week military offensive against Hamas, which left thousands homeless.

“UNRWA condemns in the strongest terms the confiscation of its aid supplies and has demanded that it is returned immediately,” the UNRWA said in a statement. “UNRWA has a strict system of monitoring aid delivery and ensuring that its assistance reaches only the intended beneficiaries. Our officials were on the ground overseeing the delivery of our aid and taking all possible steps to avoid its diversion.”

Gunness said Wednesday this was the first time Hamas had seized UN aid, but Israeli officials have charged that the militant group routinely confiscates supplies meant for needy Gazans.

Some 60 per cent of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip are refugees receiving aid from UNRWA.

Ahmad Kurd, the Hamas official in charge of the ministry of social welfare, did not deny the seizure of the aid Wednesday, charging the UN was giving the aid to local groups with ties to Hamas opponents.

“UNRWA did not do what it said it would do, and began distributing its aid to groups that tie their activities to political activism,” Kurd said.

Meanwhile, Abbas’ West Bank-based government on Wednesday annnounced a $600 million reconstruction program, most of which would be funded by foreign donors.

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who heads Abbas’ Western-backed government, said the project would cover all houses destroyed or damaged during a 22-day Israeli military offensive.

“The amount of the project is $600 million. Most of it will come from donors,” Fayyad said in a speech, adding that the details would be announced in the coming days.

Egypt is to host an international conference in coordination with Abbas’s Palestinian Authority on March 2 on Gaza reconstruction, whose cost has been estimated at $2 billion. Saudi Arabia has said it would donate e1 billion.

Last week, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit urged Europe to help with fast aid for the Gaza Strip, saying the reconstruction meeting would require damage assessments and the support of the European Union, the United Nations and others.

UN: Hamas seized food and blankets from needy Gazans - Haaretz - Israel News

2

No they don't. Another BS lie.

3

Israel blocks the international aid to Gaza for months, and nobody's bothered. And this is a big news!

4

Israel was the "enemy" what is their excuse !!!!!!!

5

You must be kidding me!

This report is such a big propaganda from Israel News. And more suprising factor is that you are blindly believing on that.

Do you know how much Hamas support local palestinians, in terms of charity and all the other means? Its not me saying, visit BBC, NPR and HRC and go through their reports. But again, if you have already made up your mind that dont bother do it cuz it wont change your opinion just like Israeli Govt.

6

UNRWA: news: press releases

UNRWA Condemns Confiscation of Gaza Aid and Demands its Immediate Return
East Jerusalem, 4 February 2009
At 1430 on 3 February over 3,500 blankets and 406 food parcels were confiscated from a distribution store at Beach Camp in Gaza by police personnel. This took place after UNRWA staff had earlier refused to hand over the aid supplies to the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs. The police subsequently broke into the warehouse and seized the aid by force. The aid was due to be distributed to five hundred families in the area.

UNRWA condemns in the strongest terms the confiscation of its aid supplies and has demanded that it is returned immediately. UNRWA has a strict system of monitoring aid delivery and ensuring that its assistance reaches only the intended beneficiaries. Our officials were on the ground overseeing the delivery of our aid and taking all possible steps to avoid its diversion.

The last sentence you spoke
7

There is plenty of photo and video proof of this as well as accounts by Pals.

Shak
8

There is plenty of photo and video proof against this as well along with accounts by Palestinians and independent agencies.

9

Defining Hamas: Roots in Charity and Branches of Violence - New York Times

But to a Palestinian brother and sister here who are raising the four children of another brother who was killed in a construction accident in 1997, Hamas is a very practically minded savior. It pays for the children’s school, transportation, clothing, even food.
‘‘I am so happy Hamas is taking care of them,’’ said the brother, Abu Shaher Safdi, 26, a tailor. ‘‘There is no way I could afford it now.’’
Since Hamas was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising, these have been the group’s pillars: religion, charity and the fight against Israel. It is zealous on all three fronts, and that makes it a difficult foe, not easy to ‘‘deal harshly with,’’ as President Bush urged today. Hamas itself, the Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement, means ‘‘zeal’’ or ‘‘bravery.’’

10

Re: UN: Hamas seized food and blankets from needy Gazans

It would be interesting to find out what the Gazan population's reaction to this would be. Hamas would stand to gain from distributing food and blankets itself rather than through the UN, as it could cement the impression in the population's perception of Hamas being sole authority in Gaza.

On the other hand, they population knows that the UN distributes such goods - what would be their reaction? Hamas would have to somehow persuade the population that it is important that the goods were distributed through Hamas rather than the UN. How will they spin this?

11

Re: UN: Hamas seized food and blankets from needy Gazans

Ah - an answer to my question from Al-Jazeera. As I suspected, Hamas will try and use this as a populism move.

The UN aid is apparently earmarked for refugee relief, rather than general population relief. Hamas will try and grow its influence outside of the refugee population through distributing this more broadly.

Of course, this will most likely be an own goal as it puts pressure on donors to cut back on Gaza aid so as not to strengthen Hamas further. Which makes this a short term gain leading to long-term loss for Hamas.

Al Jazeera English - Middle East - UN says Hamas seized Gaza aid

Ahmed al-Kurd, the Hamas government’s social affairs minister, confirmed that the aid had been seized.

He said it should be distributed to a wider section of the Gaza population and not only those who hold refugee status and benefit from Unrwa assistance.

Unrwa says it is giving food assistance to 900,000 people, out of Gaza’s 1.5-million population.

12

Read: To those who supported Hamas during the operation.

13

From the Al Jazeera report … it seems they are only bothered about the “Hamas” brothers & sisters !!!

Al-Kurd said Unrwa had given some of its aid to non-governmental organisations with a political agenda, alleging the agency lacked “neutrality and transparency”.

Last week, John Ging, Unrwa’s Gaza director, said the agency had expanded its aid programme to include employees of the Palestinian Authority, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and leader of the Fatah movement
Al Jazeera English - Middle East - UN says Hamas seized Gaza aid

14

That might be the reason! You know Hamas and Fatah are like enemies to each other. I really hate both of them for their enimosity especially under the delicate circumstances.
But this is why they snatched it. Otherwise there is sufficient evidence of how Hamas helps out the fellow Palestinians.. (except those from Fatah :frowning: )

15

Hamas is the legitmate governement, most probably with the most effective power of the gaza strip, you wont get far with snubbing them.

Also, this is haaretz reporting btw, a newspaper that wouldnt know the definiton of impartiality or credibility, when it comes to Hamas or palestine for that matter. So will look around for some independent sources.

Along with that, there have been more reliable documented accounts of the IDF using human shield in palestine, the source being israeli human right group, b'tselem. You migh want to visit that website sometime.

Simliar accusation against hamas on the other hand, have mainly been from the ever so caring IDF and israeli media, who are pretty good at concocting stories with little evidence, to serve thier never ending neurotic desires. Hence not really credible as of yet.

16

Creidible ....... it seems a press statement from UN is not enought for you .... report from Al Jazeera is not enough for you ...... you can continue to be believe whatever you want .... you are being an Ostrich ..... but that won't change the fact !!!!!!!!!!!!!

17

Re: UN: Hamas seized food and blankets from needy Gazans

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel seizes Gaza-bound aid ship

UTD you going to condemn this as well?

18

There are always two sides to a story.. Whats the Hamas side?!?!

You seem to fall in the trap of most Israel supporters by taking everything at face value.

The List Game - Capital cities (New Players Welcome)
19

You seem to fall into your own trap … you want to know Hamas’s view then you should have read the thread above … but i will save you the work

Al Jazeera English - Middle East - UN says Hamas seized Gaza aid

Ahmed al-Kurd, the Hamas government’s social affairs minister, confirmed that the aid had been seized.
He said it should be distributed to a wider section of the Gaza population and not only those who hold refugee status and benefit from Unrwa assistance.

The source is not Israeli …

20

Earlier, in an account later confirmed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the military said that a naval patrol spoke by radio to the Tali, told its skipper that it would not be allowed to enter Gaza and the two sides agreed that the vessel would instead sail to the Egyptian port of El-Arish.
But on Thursday morning, the ship tried to double back and slip past the navy, the IDF said, raising concerns that it might be trying to smuggle arms into Gaza.

The army said the ship’s crew would be taken for questioning by police, and any humanitarian goods found on the boat would be transferred to Gaza.

IDF impounds Lebanese Gaza aid ship | Israel | Jerusalem Post