Gaza Media Office Accuses US of Disinformation Over Aid Looting Claims

Gaza Government Media Office Rejects US Claims of Aid Looting Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Gaza Government Media Office has issued a strong rebuke against the United States for what it describes as a “systematic disinformation campaign” regarding humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza. The statement comes in response to footage released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) allegedly showing Hamas resistance group members stealing from an aid truck in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

In a press release issued Saturday, Gaza officials categorically rejected these accusations as “fabricated and baseless,” pointing out that CENTCOM failed to provide specific details about when and where the alleged theft occurred. The media office defended Gaza police forces, stating they have lost more than 1,000 officers while protecting aid deliveries and humanitarian workers.

“The accusation is completely false,” the statement read. “It is an intentional attempt to discredit the police, who have sacrificed more than 1,000 officers while protecting aid deliveries and humanitarian workers.”

The Gaza Media Office further alleged that Israeli forces are deliberately targeting Gaza police officers and volunteers to “create chaos and encourage theft” throughout the besieged territory. Officials criticized CENTCOM for ignoring what they described as Israel’s daily violations of the recent ceasefire agreement and the reported killing of 250 Palestinians over the past three weeks.

The statement also highlighted restrictions on humanitarian aid, noting that only 145 aid trucks have been entering Gaza daily since the truce took effect on October 10—representing just 24 percent of the 600 trucks agreed upon under the ceasefire terms. Additionally, officials condemned Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy machinery and bulldozers needed for recovery efforts in devastated areas.

“The silence of the US Central Command regarding these daily crimes, and its preoccupation with spreading dubious narratives against the Palestinian police forces, confirms its complete bias towards the Israeli occupation, and its loss of credibility,” the media office stated.

The ongoing situation follows last month’s Gaza truce agreement, brokered through indirect negotiations in Egypt with the involvement of US President Biden’s administration. The first phase of the deal required Hamas to release 20 surviving Israeli captives and 28 bodies of deceased Israelis in exchange for Israel freeing nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and transferring the bodies of 360 Palestinians killed during the Gaza offensive.

According to the Gaza Media Office, Hamas has fulfilled much of its commitment, having handed over all 20 living Israeli captives and the remains of 17 others. In exchange, Israel has reportedly released nearly 2,000 Palestinians and returned the bodies of 225 Palestinians.

The conflict, now in its fourteenth month, has taken a devastating toll on Gaza’s civilian population. Palestinian health authorities report that 68,858 people, primarily women and children, have been killed since October 7, 2023, with another 170,664 injured. Infrastructure damage has been catastrophic, with hospitals, schools, and residential areas severely impacted.

The Gaza Media Office has appealed to mediators and guarantor states of the truce to pressure Israel to respect the terms of the agreement and fully implement its obligations. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with international aid organizations consistently warning about the risk of famine and disease outbreaks due to limited access to food, clean water, and medical supplies.

As tensions continue to simmer despite the partial implementation of the truce agreement, international observers remain concerned about the fragility of the ceasefire and the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.