Gaza’s Hamas rulers on Friday urged the United Nations to reconsider its suspension of food aid for Palestinian refugees, imposed after protesters stormed a UN depot.
The UN Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, stopped food deliveries after dozens of Gazans forced their way into the field office on Thursday, demanding reinstatement of a monthly cash allowance to poor families which was halted from April 1 due to budget cuts.
“This is an unjustified step from UNRWA,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
“There is a right of peaceful protest for Palestinian refugees,” he said, adding: “We call on UNRWA to reevaluate its position and not to overreact to residents’ protest.”
The protesters were removed by UN security when they tried to break into a building, staff said.
“We fully understand the impact of the decision to suspend cash assistance had on some of our beneficiaries,” UNRWA said in a statement.
“Demonstrations during the past week had already forced UNRWA to close many of its facilities,” said the UN Palestinian refugee agency.
