Controversy arises amid aid truck looting in Gaza

On October 31, 2025, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released drone footage allegedly showing Hamas operatives taking supplies from a convoy in northern Khan Younis. The US military said the drone was monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas when the incident occurred.

In a statement, it revealed that “the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) observed suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck traveling as part of a humanitarian convoy delivering needed assistance from international partners to Gazans in northern Khan Younis.”

Hamas denounces CENTCOM’s claims

Hamas has rejected accusations put forward by CENTCOM that its members looted humanitarian aid trucks in the Gaza Strip, calling the allegations “fabricated” and “politically motivated.”

It claimed that the accusations were an attempt to justify the continued reduction of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and to distract from what it described as the “international community’s failure to end the blockade and starvation imposed on civilians.”

“All manifestations of chaos and looting ended immediately after the withdrawal of the occupying forces,” Hamas said, asserting that Israel was responsible for earlier disorder. “This proves that the occupation was the only party that sponsored these gangs and orchestrated the chaos.”

Defense of aid operations

Hamas emphasized that its security forces have worked to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the conflict. The group said more than 1,000 Palestinian police and security personnel have been killed and hundreds wounded while protecting aid convoys. It further stated that no international or local humanitarian organizations, nor any truck drivers, had filed reports of Hamas-linked looting. Moreover, Hamas also accused Washington of ignoring Israeli violations of the ceasefire, claiming that Israeli attacks since the truce began have killed 254 Palestinians and wounded 595 others.

Dispute over aid quantities

CENTCOM maintained that international partners have delivered more than 600 trucks of aid and commercial goods to Gaza daily over the past week, and that any disruptions could undermine humanitarian relief efforts.

Hamas, however, challenged these figures, saying the number of actual aid trucks entering Gaza each day does not exceed 135. The rest, it claimed, are commercial shipments carrying goods that most residents cannot afford due to the dire economic situation.

“The U.S. adoption of the Israeli narrative only deepens Washington’s immoral bias and makes it complicit in the blockade and the suffering of the Palestinian people,” Hamas said. The group reiterated its call for increased humanitarian access and fewer commercial shipments.