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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Gaza accuses Israel of smuggling oxycodone in aid flour bags
Narcotic pills have been found inside US-dispatched flour bags in the Israeli-besieged enclave, Palestinian authorities said. In a statement, Gaza's government media office said prescription painkiller Oxycodone was found by Palestinians inside flour bags they received from US-run aid distribution points in Gaza. 'It is possible that these pills were deliberately ground or dissolved inside the flour itself, which constitutes a direct assault on public health,' it warned. The media office held Israel fully responsible for this "heinous crime" aimed at spreading addiction and destroying the Palestinian social fabric from within. 'This is a part of the ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinians,' it said, calling Israel's use of drugs a "soft weapon in a dirty war against civilians.' Read: Israeli strikes kill 37 in Gaza within 24-hours Gaza's Anti-Drug Committee has urged residents to inspect food aid and report any foreign substances, warning that some items from what it described as 'death traps called US-Israeli aid centres' may be contaminated. Israel had crafted a plan to establish four aid distribution points in southern and central Gaza, which Israeli media say aims to evacuate Palestinians from northern Gaza into the south. The Israeli mechanism was opposed by the international community and the UN, which came as an alternative attempt by Israel to bypass the aid distribution through UN channels. Dr Khalil Mazen Abu Nada and pharmacist Omar Hamad elaborated on the findings, raising concerns over the potential misuse of the drug. The most despicable form of genocide has recently come to light with the spread of a drug called Oxycodone among the population. Israel has reportedly been smuggling it in through bags of flour provided as aid. As a pharmacist, let me explain what this drug is: it belongs to the… — Omar Hamad | عُـمَـرْ 𓂆 (@OmarHamadD) June 26, 2025 What is Oxycodone? Oxycodone is typically prescribed for managing severe pain in cancer patients or post-surgical recovery. It is highly addictive and poses serious health risks if misused or consumed unknowingly. 'Weaponisation of food' Meanwhile, the United Nations this week condemned Israel for what it called the 'weaponisation of food' in Gaza, labelling the practice a war crime. It also called on Israeli forces to 'stop shooting at people trying to get food'. According to UN figures, over 410 Palestinians have been killed and at least 3,000 wounded while attempting to access or collect humanitarian aid since the beginning of the Israeli siege. 'Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food,' the UN human rights office said in briefing notes on Tuesday. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed body, began distributing food in Gaza on 26 May after Israel halted all official aid entry for over two months. The UN warned in May that '100 percent of the population' in Gaza is 'at risk of famine'.
Roya News
3 days 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.
