Gaza Herald – Gaza’s Government Media Office has rejected the false allegations made by UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov regarding an incident at a World Food Programme aid distribution center in Jabalia, northern Gaza. The office said the event was not an assault on humanitarian operations, but rather a lawful police operation aimed at preventing the misuse of aid deliveries for commercial smuggling.
In a statement issued Monday, the Media Office said Palestinian police were carrying out an official law enforcement mission during which they confiscated smuggled cigarettes and mobile phone screens hidden inside humanitarian aid parcels. It said the operation was conducted in accordance with legal procedures and was intended to protect relief supplies from being exploited for unauthorized commercial activities.
The office stressed that the intervention came in response to repeated UN requests for support in securing humanitarian convoys and distribution centers, arguing that preventing the diversion of aid shipments serves both relief agencies and civilians. It criticized Alakbarov for issuing a misleading statement that, in its view, portrayed law enforcement efforts negatively while failing to acknowledge attempts to safeguard humanitarian assistance.
The statement also accused the UN official of remaining silent over Israeli attacks that have killed aid workers, including UN staff, and damaged humanitarian warehouses, aid convoys, and UNRWA facilities. It argued that highlighting a routine security operation while overlooking attacks on humanitarian infrastructure reflects a selective and inconsistent approach.
The Government Media Office called on the United Nations to withdraw misleading claims and apologize to the authorities involved in protecting aid operations. It reaffirmed its commitment to securing humanitarian convoys and relief workers in accordance with international law, while urging the international community to focus its attention on the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing genocide and restrictions affecting Gaza.
