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On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Hamas following the release of a U.S. military drone video that appears to capture members of the group seizing a truck loaded with humanitarian aid meant for Gaza civilians.
The footage, made public by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), depicts individuals believed to be Hamas operatives assaulting the driver of an aid vehicle. After pulling him to the side of the road, they are seen absconding with both the truck and its supplies.
“Hamas continues to deprive the people of Gaza of the humanitarian aid they desperately need,” Rubio wrote on X. “This theft undermines international efforts in support of President Trump’s 20 Point Plan to deliver critical assistance to innocent civilians.”
Rubio criticized Hamas, labeling them as the primary obstacle to the delivery of aid, and accused the group of obstructing assistance intended for the people of Gaza.
The video, distributed by CENTCOM, clearly shows the suspected operatives overpowering the aid truck driver, dragging him to the median, and making off with the vehicle and its cargo. (U.S. CENTCOM via X)
“Hamas needs to disarm and cease their theft to pave the way for a more hopeful future in Gaza,” Rubio asserted.
The truck was part of a humanitarian convoy carrying supplies from international partners to Gazans in northern Khan Younis, according to CENTCOM.
The incident was captured on video surveillance by the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) using a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, the command noted.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio blasted Hamas Saturday after drone video surfaced showing suspected operatives of the terror group looting a truck carrying humanitarian aid bound for civilians in Gaza. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Operatives attacked the driver and stole the aid and truck after moving the driver to the road’s median,” CENTCOM posted to X. “The driver’s current status is unknown.”
Nearly 40 nations and international organizations are coordinating humanitarian, logistical and security assistance for Gaza through the CMCC, the command said.
“Over the past week, international partners have delivered more than 600 trucks of commercial goods and aid into Gaza daily,” CENTCOM wrote. “This incident undermines these efforts.”
Nearly 40 nations and international organizations are coordinating humanitarian, logistical and security assistance for Gaza through the CMCC, according to CENTCOM. (Khames Alrefi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The CMCC, located in southern Israel, opened Oct. 17, marking the establishment of a central hub for Gaza aid just days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect.
The center serves as the main hub for Gaza stabilization efforts and includes an operations floor designed to track real-time developments inside Gaza.
Data published in August by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) showed that most of its aid entering the war-torn Gaza Strip had been looted inside the Palestinian territory.
