Hamas gunman on Tuesday night stormed a Gaza City warehouse belonging to the United Nations and seized 3,500 blankets and 400 parcels of food meant for needy and hungry local residents.

UN spokesman Christopher Gunness described the perpetrators to the Associated Press as paramilitary police officers.

Gunness claimed that it was the first incident of Hamas hijacking aid to Gaza, but Israeli officials say much more aid has been stolen, usually while still en route to the UN warehouses.

Jordanian media has reported similar incidents of Hamas hijacking aid provided by the Hashemite Kingdom.