Live: Dozens killed and injured in Israeli shooting at aid site in Gaza

The Israeli military has accused Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence, of being an “active terrorist” affiliated with Hamas, a claim he strongly denies.

The allegation, announced on Sunday, is based on what the army says are documents recovered during military operations in the Gaza Strip. These documents, described as lists of Hamas members, were shared with media outlets but lack context regarding when and how they were obtained.

The army further accused Bassal of disseminating false information about Israeli operations in Gaza to support Hamas’s objectives.

In response, Bassal rejected the accusations as baseless, telling AFP, “I do not work for any military organisation.” He defended the Civil Defense’s role, saying it operates in line with international humanitarian law. The organisation has long been responsible for emergency response in Gaza, particularly transporting victims of Israeli airstrikes to hospitals.

Gaza’s Civil Defence has featured prominently in international media coverage throughout the war, now in its 21st month, often providing casualty updates and footage from the ground.