On Wednesday, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) accused Hamas of stealing aid intended for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza strip. UNRWA released a statement saying that Gaza policemen used armed force to remove “over 3,500 blankets and 406 food parcels” intended to help the hundreds of families hurt in the continuing Arab-Israeli conflict.
While Ahmed al-Kurd, the Hamas Welfare Minister, denies these claims, he implies Hamas is displeased with UNRWA’s recent affiliation with non-governmental organizations that inherently lack “neutrality and transparency.” An UNRAW spokesperson says their NGO involvement is an effort to bypass Israeli opposition to the transport of aid in the destroyed Gaza strip. Some claim Israel is too stringent in their admittance of aid to Gaza and Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad is in the process of creating alternate plans to deliver aid. Hamas’ dissatisfaction follows UNRWA’s employment of the Palestinian Authority, which falls under the leadership of the Fatah group, Hamas’s chief opposer. UNRWA’s accusation and Hamas’ rebuttal intensifies the growing dissent between Hamas and rival groups in the controversial and war-torn Gaza region and contested Palestinian territories.
