The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said that it was unable to open its aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip on Saturday due to threats from Hamas, in the latest disruption to the aid group’s operations as it struggles to get off the ground.

The statement did not provide further information on the terror group’s threats, but a GHF spokesperson said they were directed at the foundation’s drivers and at local Palestinian staff helping operate the distribution sites.

It marked the fourth time in the past week that GHF operations were disrupted, and the second time it kept its centers shuttered altogether, although previous work stoppages were due to overcrowding and mass casualty incidents — allegedly from Israeli fire — rather than due to Hamas threats.

“Hamas is the reason hundreds of thousands of hungry Gazans were not fed today,” GHF said in its statement announcing Saturday’s closures.

“The group issued direct threats against GHF operations. These threats made it impossible to proceed today without putting innocent lives at risk,” it added.

It accused Hamas of being bent on aid operations returning to the UN-backed mechanisms that had been used previously, which enabled the group  to divert assistance from those in need by “manipulating the distribution processes.”

“These threats will not deter the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation from its mission to deliver food to Gazans who need it........

© The Times of Israel