Senator Rubio strongly criticized Hamas on Saturday after a video from a U.S. military drone emerged, purporting to show operatives from the terror organization plundering a truck filled with humanitarian assistance destined for civilians in Gaza.
The footage, disseminated by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), depicts suspected Hamas operatives attacking the driver of an aid truck on Friday, dragging him to the road’s central divider, and subsequently absconding with both the vehicle and its contents.
“Hamas persists in depriving the people of Gaza of the humanitarian aid they desperately require,” Rubio stated on . “This act of theft undermines international endeavors supporting ‘s 20 Point Plan to deliver crucial assistance to innocent civilians.”
Rubio asserted that remains “the impediment,” accusing the terror group of obstructing relief intended for civilian populations.
“They must relinquish their weapons and cease their looting activities so that Gaza can achieve a more promising future,” he further remarked.
According to CENTCOM, the truck was part of a humanitarian convoy transporting supplies from global partners to Gazans residing in northern Khan Younis.
The incident was recorded by video surveillance from the (CMCC) using a U.S. MQ-9 drone, which was monitoring the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, as noted by the command.
“Operatives assaulted the driver and absconded with the aid and the truck after moving the driver to the road’s median,” CENTCOM posted to . “The current condition of the driver is unknown.”
Approximately 40 nations and are coordinating humanitarian, logistical, and security support for Gaza through the CMCC, the command indicated.
“Over the past week, international partners have facilitated the daily delivery of more than 600 trucks carrying commercial goods and aid into Gaza,” CENTCOM wrote. “This particular incident jeopardizes these efforts.”
The CMCC, situated in southern Israel, commenced official operations on October 17, establishing a primary hub for Gaza aid merely days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect.
The facility functions as the principal center for Gaza stabilization initiatives and features an operations floor designed to track real-time developments within Gaza.
Data released in August by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) indicated that the majority of its aid entering the conflict-affected Gaza Strip had been plundered within the Palestinian territory.
Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Ruth Marks Eglash contributed to this report.