Palestinian doctor says Gaza is facing 'biological warfare' as toxins found in food aid

A doctor in Gaza has said that food aid provided to Palestinians is contaminated with toxic chemicals, raising fears of what he described as “biological warfare.”The majority of this limited aid is being delivered by US and Israel-backed organisation, which several human rights groups have criticised as another tool of the Israeli assault.

Posting on X, Dr Mohammed Hammad said that highly toxic substances had been detected in flour earlier, and were now found in beans.

He warned that other food items being distributed as aid could also be contaminated, posing a grave threat to Palestinians who are already grappling with severe health challenges.

“Gaza: It is being subjected to biological warfare by the occupation via food aid. Aflatoxin B1, a carcinogenic mycotoxin, has been found in white beans and legumes, and the narcotic oxycodone has been found in flour,” Dr Hammad wrote.

He added,  “There are strong suspicions of other bacterial contaminants in food aid provided by the occupation. We call on the United Nations to take samples of food aid for testing to confirm whether there is biological warfare in Gaza.”

Gaza: It is being subjected to biological warfare by the occupation via food aid. Aflatoxin B1, a carcinogenic mycotoxin, has been found in white beans and legumes, and the narcotic oxycodone has been found in flour. There are strong suspicions of other bacterial contaminants in… pic.twitter.com/qo1FZg9emo

— dr. mohammed hamad - Gaza (@Medo198518) August 7, 2025

Reports of contaminated food aid began circulating after US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarion Foundation (GHF) started delivering supplies to the Strip, while the UN and other international humanitarian organisations continued to be barred by Israeli authorities from entering the enclave despite a worsening food crisis.

In another video from Gaza, food parcels air-dropped into the territory appeared to be covered in black mould. This followed claims by some Palestinians that flour distributed among starving civilians contained narcotic substances.