U.N. to Resume Aid Shipments to Gaza

JERUSALEM – The U.N. says it will resume aid shipments into Gaza after Hamas returned supplies seized several days ago.

Officials from Hamas, the militant Islamic group that rules Gaza, took thousands of U.N. blankets, food parcels, and tons of rice and flour.

That prompted the U.N. to stop its aid trucks into Gaza, fearing Hamas would seize them.

John Ging, Gaza head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, said Monday that Hamas officials returned the aid, prompting the U.N. to lift its freeze.

The U.N. is under pressure to show international donors that it is independent of Hamas as it seeks funding to rebuild the territory after Israel's crushing three-week military offensive. The U.S., EU and Israel label Hamas a terror group.