IDF Intelligence Unit 504 on Monday revealed several conversations with citizens of Gaza where residents accuse Hamas of stealing food from humanitarian deliveries, seizing homes of civilians to use for launching attacks against Israel, and even killing citizens who turned to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for help.
This from newsmax.com.
In one conversation, a Gaza resident told the Israeli intelligence officer that Hamas murdered his cousin when he reached out to UNRWA for help.
The civilian said:
May God burn Hamas.
The officer responded by telling him to hold a white flag as he flees.
The civilian asked:
When will you get rid of them?
The officer asked:
Why don’t you get rid of them yourselves?
“Because they kill us,” the man said. “They killed my cousin yesterday.”
In another conversation, a different civilian said he does not leave his home out of fear that Hamas will use his residence to fire at Israel, which would result in the IDF targeting his home.
The civilian told the officer, who asked why he wouldn’t leave his home:
They [Hamas] want us to leave our homes so they can take control of them in order to shoot at you.
Another resident who works for an American organization testified that Hamas terrorists tried to steal food intended for civilians in Gaza. The civilian stated that Hamas systematically steals equipment and food, including from UNRWA warehouses.
Israel has accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid. Videos released on social media have shown trucks of humanitarian aid being diverted by masked gunmen.
Last month, the IDF released video footage revealing what it described as Hamas members stealing humanitarian aid from civilians.
Last week, Israel accused the UNRWA of covering up the thefts. It also revealed the testimony of a former hostage, saying he had been held captive in the home of a UNRWA teacher.
A New York Post report in December included testimony in which a citizen of Gaza said that:
Hamas manages UNRWA [and that when Hamas] rose to power, they took control of everything.
UNRWA representatives have denied the charges and accuse Israel of a smear campaign against the United Nation’s agency for Palestinian refugees.
Final thoughts: Who do we believe, the IDF or Hamas? A rhetorical question, indeed.
