Israel claimed a Hamas commander was killed in an Israeli military strike on a UN food distribution center in southern Gaza on Wednesday (March 14). They attacked that commander there. Palestinian health officials said 4 other people including a UN worker were killed in that attack. British news agency Reuters reported this news.
The Israeli military said that a Hamas fighter named Mohammad Abu Hasna was killed in that attack. He used to provide intelligence to Hamas about the location of Israeli forces. In addition, he was involved in controlling humanitarian aid and distributing it to armed fighters of Hamas.
In a statement, Hamas said Abu Hasna was a member of the group’s police force. The group condemned his killing, calling it a ‘cowardly murder’.
Among the 5 dead, Hamas identified another as Nidal al-Sheikh Id, head of the emergency department in Rafah city.
UNRWA, the main UN agency for the Palestinians, said the attack hit one of its facilities in the city of Rafah. At least one of those killed in the attack was one of their workers. 22 other people were injured during the attack. More than 2.3 million Palestinians have taken refuge in the city.
“Food supplies are running out in the Gaza Strip, there is widespread hunger and in some areas it is turning into famine,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on Wednesday. One of our few remaining support centers there was attacked today.’
Meanwhile, Hamas has denied Israel’s allegations of food aid distribution. They countered by saying that Israel is trying to capitalize on the famine and oppress the Palestinians.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that other agencies would replace UNRWA in Gaza without disrupting the food distribution program, citing UNRWA’s links to Hamas fighters.
At a press conference in Washington, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he had not yet received any reports of the killing of the UN staff. Blinken said, however, that even in difficult situations, humanitarian aid workers must be protected to ensure their safety.
In Blinken’s words, ‘It is true that you are in a war zone. Armed fighters are firing from hospitals, schools and residential buildings. However, the Israeli military and the Israeli government have a responsibility and obligation to provide their full cooperation in ensuring that humanitarian aid workers continue to work there.
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