Unrwa chief says Israel spread false aid theft claims to control relief

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) has accused Israel of fabricating claims that Hamas was stealing large amounts of aid, saying the allegations were designed to push out humanitarian groups and tighten Israeli control over food distribution in Gaza.

“No proof of aid diversion in Gaza,” Unrwa Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote on social media.

He said the accusations were part of a deliberate effort to damage the reputation of international relief agencies.

“Claims were only aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the humanitarian community & attempting to replace it with a diabolic and politically motivated distribution scheme,” he added. “It’s time for principled and at scale humanitarian response including through Unrwa.”