Increasing reports are coming out of Gaza about Hamas taking over the aid shipments that are sent in by Israel and by other international agencies. As I reported earlier, journalists and now hospital doctors have said that Hamas has taken critical supplies from the hospitals in order to use them for injured fighters, leaving the civilian casualties without proper medical supplies.

Reports from inside Gaza say Hamas takes a cut out of all aid that arrives, including flour and medicine. Supplies intended to be distributed without gain among the population is seized by the group and sold to the residents, at a profit to the Hamas government.

One such incident was recorded Monday, when a convoy of trucks carrying supplies through the Kerem Shalom crossing was opened fire upon and seized by Hamas gunmen. Similar incidents occurred with trucks carrying fuel.

Again, this is not the first time Hamas has done this. They made Jordan hopping mad last February when they seized tons of supplies Jordan sent into Gaza for the civilians and Hamas took it for the militants and sold it to the civilians. They’ve hijacked fuel supplies sent in numerous times. They also seized two convoys (14 trucks worth) of medical supplies meant for the Red Crescent last February.

Reports out of Gaza say residents who attempted to flee their homes in the northern area of the Strip were forced to go back at gunpoint, by Hamas men.

The organization is presumably interested in increasing civilian casualties in order to give rise to international pressure against Israel. Arab media reported that in an IDF strike on a UN school 30 civilians were killed, but there is no legitimate way to prove gunmen were among those killed as Hamas tends to bury these bodies quickly, thus eliminating evidence in Israel’s favor.

Other civilian complaints state that Hamas gunmen pull children along with them “by the ears” from place to place, fearing that if they don’t have a child with them they will be fair game to the IDF. Others hide in civilian homes and stairwells, UNRWA ambulances, and mosques.