Hamas is “diverting and looting” aid being delivered to Gaza to sell “on the black market,” according to a former justice minister.

Alan Shatter was speaking as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant from the ICC in relation to “deaths caused by starvation” in Gaza, and other alleged war crimes.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor has also submitted arrest warrant applications for Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and three senior Hamas leaders.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, Mr Shatter said there are “complexities” to delivering aid to Gaza.

“The difficulty is with regard to ensuring that aid isn’t diverted or looted,” he said.

“There have been numerous stories of Hamas diverting aid, looting it and selling it on the black market.”

Palestinians wait for humanitarian aid on a beachfront in Gaza City, 25-02-2024. Image: Associated Press / Alamy

Mr Shatter said the prevention of aid delivery to Gaza was one of the key allegations made by the ICC against Israel.

“The allegation relates to the failure of Israel to ensure adequate aid has been delivered during this awful conflict, to the people of Gaza,” he said.

“The [ICC] is concerned there was a deliberate policy to starve people in Gaza in order to force the release of hostages and force Hamas to end the war.

“These are quite serious allegations and it’s quite clear under international law that Israel has an obligation to ensure adequate aid is provided to the population there.”

Death toll

The former justice minister, who thinks the ICC has a “very important role to play” in the world, said some challenge the death toll in Gaza - where it's believed over 30,000 people have died since October 7th.

“The statistics that are given are seriously challenged and have been changed and amended,” he said.

“The reality is that this is a terrible conflict and people who have died should never have died."

A US aircraft loader is used to move bundles of humanitarian aid to be airdroped in Gaza at an undisclosed location, 5-3-24. Image: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy

Mr Shatter said Hamas is a militant group “intent on murder and genocide”.

“Hamas has an extensive tunnel network under Gaza,” he said.

“They fire rockets at Israel from adjacent to civilian infrastructure and terrorists emerge from hospitals, mosques and residential areas.

Hamas

Sinn Féin’s foreign affairs spokesperson Matt Carthy said the ICC prosecutor has “rightfully” applied for an arrest warrant for Hamas and Israeli leaders.

“It’s doing its job in seeking to hold those responsible for war crimes to account, whether committed by Hamas, or in a much more extensive manner by Israel,” he said.

“We need the international community to ensure that international law and the UN Charter have any actual meaning.”

Deputy Carthy said a two-state solution can only happen if “all parties are held accountable to international law”.

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Main image: Former justice minister Alan Shatter. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo