The Defense Ministry's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), said Monday that drugs had been smuggled into the Gaza Strip inside food products intended as humanitarian aid for residents of the Strip.
In a post on X/Twitter, COGAT said the incident was based on a report by the World Central Kitchen (WCK). The post was published on the agency’s English language account, which is aimed at the international community.
According to WCK, drugs were discovered concealed inside packages of canned peppers during the unloading of aid shipments and food preparation at the organization’s kitchens in the Gaza Strip.
The packages contained six bundles of hashish weighing approximately 600 grams in total, along with an additional 160 grams of other illegal substances.
"The incident demonstrates once again that Hamas will stop at nothing to exploit humanitarian aid for its own needs," COGAT said.
Hamas 'main obstacle' to improved conditions in Gaza, COGAT official asserts
The agency added that it "strongly condemns the serious smuggling of drugs" and said it would continue working with all relevant parties against "any attempt to abuse humanitarian aid mechanisms."
"The incident demonstrates once again that Hamas will stop at nothing to exploit humanitarian aid for its own needs."
The report came a day after COGAT published an analysis claiming that the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip significantly exceeds humanitarian needs as defined by UN agencies, international organizations, and assessments conducted throughout the war.
"Hamas remains the main obstacle to further improving the situation in the Gaza Strip," a senior COGAT official said.
The official added that "the organization interferes with humanitarian activity, exploits civilian infrastructure, influences distribution mechanisms and continues its repeated attempts to smuggle prohibited items under the guise of humanitarian aid."
Forces destroy weapon depots in Gazan mosques, arrest West Bank terrorist
The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) recently destroyed two Hamas weapons depots in northern Gaza, the military and ISA said in a joint statement on Monday.
The weapons, aid the statement, were stored inside two mosques in the Shati and Deir al-Balah areas. Among the weapons were "dozens" of Kalashnikov rifles, magazines, and other equipment, it said.
Additionally, advance warning was given before the strikes, which used precise munitions and aerial surveillance in an effort to reduce harm to civilians, the military said.
In another statement on Monday, the army announced that the elite undercover Duvdevan force arrested Hamam Khazem in Jenin, who was "planning to carry out an attack inside Israel."
Khazem's father, Fathi Khazem was killed by IDF troops last week after the army said he tried to stab a soldier. Raad Khazem, Hamam's brother, carried out the 2022 shooting at Dizengoff Center, murdering three Israeli civilians and resulting in his own death.
Moreover, the army said another terrorist "working to advance an attack" against Israelis was arrested in the West Bank village of Sanur on Sunday.