Washington has described as “hypocrisy” the United Nations’ criticism of the humanitarian aid that a newly created foundation, created and supported by the US and Israel, has begun distributing in the Gaza Strip.

“It’s unfortunate because the issue in this case is delivering aid to Gaza, and all of a sudden it turns into protests about the manner and nature of those doing it,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters, reacting to the international agency’s criticisms.

They are “full of hypocrisy,” the US State Department spokeswoman threw in.

Thousands of Palestinians stormed a new aid storage and distribution centre in the southern Gaza Strip after noon yesterday.

The episode was recorded as Israel, which, in mid-May, intensified its military operations in the Palestinian enclave, where the destruction is immense and the population is at risk of starvation after 19 months of war, is setting up a new aid distribution system that is sparking strong reactions from the international community.

“The important thing is that aid and food is being brought to Gaza on a large scale,” Tammy Bruce countered.

“This is a complex area, and what matters is that (the project) is working,” she added, insisting that the foundation is acting in this way “in keeping with the humanitarian principles of independence and impartiality.”

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been accused by the humanitarian community internationally of aiming to help Israel achieve its military objectives in the Gaza Strip in violation of humanitarian principles, of bypassing the UN, and excluding any Palestinian involvement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted yesterday that there was a “momentary loss of control” at the aid storage facility after the Israeli army said members of the Israeli army opened fire “in a warning manner” at the area outside the fence.