"Obama's statement was not smart or strategic, " said Wissam Tarif, a Lebanon-based activist with Avaaz, an international group providing humanitarian aid to besieged Syrian communities.

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In many areas, conflict and security concerns -- prompted by the activities of al Qaeda-linked Islamist group al-Shabaab -- hindered humanitarian aid and access.

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"Generally, we have no problem with a small group of aid workers monitoring and arranging flow or distribution of humanitarian supplies, " Arif said.

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Despite the recent tensions, South Korea last week approved the first shipment of humanitarian aid to North Korea since Ms. Park took office, allowing a local charity group to send tuberculosis medicine.

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"U.S. intelligence suspects that the group is actually providing weaponry and other military equipment, " rather than humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, Rubin noted in Commentary.

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Mr McShane was with the "Antrim to Gaza" group which travelled to the strip last year as part of a major land convoy bringing humanitarian aid to civilians.

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