Hamas slams WFP 'dangerous' suspension of Gaza aid

Hamas has criticised the suspension of the World Food Programme's delivery of food aid to northern Gaza as a "dangerous development" in a statement on Wednesday.

The Palestinian group said the decision by the WFP to pause much-needed deliveries of food aid to the area would only "exacerbate human suffering".

It urged the WFP and all UN agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), to resume their work and humanitarian responsibilities in line with international law to relieve Palestinians from famine.

The group also urged the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to take "urgent and effective action" to prevent starvation and genocide.

There have been cases of people in northern Gaza eating grass, animal feed, and weeds to survive.

The comments came after the WFP announced it was forced to pause deliveries of food aid to northern Gaza because of the "complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order". 

The WFP said it had first suspended deliveries to the north three weeks ago after a strike hit an aid truck.

The agency attempted to resume deliveries this week but convoys on Sunday and Monday came under fire as crowds of desperate and hungry people attempted to strip the lorries of their goods.

It added that it was working to resume deliveries "as soon as possible" and urged for the opening of crossing points from Israel for aid directly into northern Gaza.

The agency warned of a "precipitous slide into hunger and disease" and that "people are already dying from hunger-related causes".

Entry of aid trucks into the besieged territory has sharply declined by more than half in the past two weeks, according to UN figures.

Overwhelmed UN and relief workers say aid intake and distribution have been crippled by Israeli failure to ensure convoys' safety amid its bombardment and ground offensive and by a breakdown in security, with hungry Palestinians frequently overwhelming trucks to take food.

According to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation, Gaza's entire 2.3 million population is currently classified as facing either crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of food insecurity.