Latest news with #OmarHamad
Roya News
4 hours ago
- Health
- Roya News
Narcotics in flour? Gaza says Oxycodone found in aid
Gaza's Government Media Office has expressed serious concern and condemnation over the alleged discovery of narcotic substances inside flour bags distributed by US- and 'Israeli'-backed aid centers in the besieged enclave. In a statement published Wednesday on Telegram, the office reported that "narcotic pills of the type 'Oxycodone'" were found hidden in flour bags intended for civilian use. 'We have so far documented four testimonies from citizens who found these pills inside flour bags,' the statement read. The office further warned that some of the narcotics may have been ground or dissolved directly into the flour itself. 'This raises the scope of the crime and transforms it into a serious attack directly targeting public health,' it added. The allegations have sparked outrage on social media, with activists and medical professionals warning of the grave health risks associated with Oxycodone, a powerful opioid used to treat severe pain. Pharmacist Omar Hamad described the situation as 'the most despicable form of genocide,' emphasizing the drug's addictive properties and severe side effects, including respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and death, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. Hamad claimed to have personally seen the pills and cited Gaza's Anti-Drug Committee as the source of the allegations. He also referenced a report by Dr. Khalil Abu Nada, which documents additional findings. As of now, there has been no official response from US or 'Israeli' authorities regarding the claims. Oxycodone, classified as a controlled substance in most countries, is typically reserved for patients suffering from extreme pain, such as cancer cases. Unregulated exposure, especially in a population already facing severe malnutrition, trauma, and limited access to medical care, poses catastrophic risks, health experts warn. The Gaza Media Office called for an international investigation into the matter and urged humanitarian organizations to ensure that aid deliveries are safe, transparent, and free from harmful substances.
Middle East Eye
9 hours ago
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Opioid pills discovered in US-backed food aid, Gaza authorities say
The Gaza government media office on Friday condemned the discovery of oxycodone pills reportedly discovered in flour bags distributed by 'American-Israeli' aid centres. 'We have so far documented four testimonies from citizens who found these pills inside the flour bags,' it said in a statement, warning of the 'possibility that some of these narcotic substances were deliberately ground or dissolved in the flour itself'. Oxycodone is an opioid meant to treat severe and long-term pain, often prescribed to cancer patients. The drug is highly addictive and can have life-threatening effects, including breathing complications and hallucinations. The media office's statement comes after several social media posts shared images of pills purportedly discovered in flour bags in Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Palestinian pharmacist Omar Hamad described the discovery of the pills as 'the most despicable form of genocide'. Khalil Mazen Abu Nada, a Palestinian doctor in Gaza, also posted about the drug on Facebook, describing it as a 'means to obliterate our societal awareness'. The Gaza government media office said it held Israel 'fully responsible for this heinous crime of spreading addiction and destroying the Palestinian social fabric from within'. Israel kills 25 Palestinians seeking aid as hospitals warn of infant mortalities Read More » The office also decried the Israeli military's 'exploitation of the blockade to smuggle these substances as 'aid and assistance'', describing the Israeli and American-operated aid centres as 'death traps'. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the controversial US-Israeli organisation operating aid points in Gaza, has been widely condemned by human rights organisations for its lack of transparency and accountability. On Wednesday, 15 human rights and legal groups called for the suspension of GHF for its role in undermining international humanitarian organisations and fostering the 'forced displacement' of Palestinians in Gaza, amounting to what could be complicity in 'crimes under international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide'. Gaza's health authorities have reported that at least 516 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces near aid sites in the past month of GHF's operations. On Friday, Haaretz reported Israeli soldiers admitting to directly shooting and killing unarmed Palestinians at GHF-operated aid collection sites. Middle East Eye has asked the GHF for comment.
