An Israeli military official stated yesterday that the United Nations was rebuffed when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) offered to escort aid trucks in Gaza, with the UN preferring Hamas police to handle security, according to a statement released by Joe Truzman. The official highlighted the UN's request for Hamas police to guard aid trucks, noting that some of these officers participated in the October 7 massacre or were killed fighting the IDF during the ongoing conflict. This assertion suggests a broader concern about the UN's handling of aid distribution in the region. Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed grave concern over the situation in Gaza, stating that Israel's denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children seeking food and water, cannot be defended or ignored, as reported by 6 News AU. Separately, journalist Yasser Sobhi Hassan Abu Namous was killed in Khan Yunis on October 27th, reportedly targeted due to his membership in the Al-Qassam Brigades, according to Al Sahel Media Foundation. His sister described him as a "heroic Qassami" and "the brave Mujahid," while his wife posted a photo of him in uniform. His mother was also killed in the strike. Another report identified 16-year-old Ali Muhammad Abdullah Rayhan as a child combatant associated with the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, killed between December 22nd and 23rd, 2023. Recent social media posts also show Israeli extremists, some with their children, blocking aid trucks destined for Gaza. The UN has been urged to prioritize delivering food rather than engaging in a "blame game."
