Hazem Isleem, a Palestinian truck driver, experienced an armed ambush while transporting aid through southern Gaza last month. Armed looters forced him to drive to a nearby field where they stole thousands of pounds of flour intended for Palestinians in need. The following morning, the gang had stripped nearly all supplies from a convoy of around 100 United Nations aid trucks, an incident the U.N. described as one of the most severe during the ongoing conflict.
Israel's military actions in Gaza, prompted by a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2022, have resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, with local health officials reporting over 45,000 deaths. The situation has led to widespread hunger as Israel has imposed restrictions on aid entry and blocked movements of aid trucks between northern and southern Gaza.
Despite Hamas being largely expelled from the region, no alternative government has been established, allowing armed gangs to fill the power void. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, announced it would cease aid deliveries through the Kerem Shalom border crossing due to escalating lawlessness, resulting in hundreds of truckloads of relief being stranded.
Georgios Petropoulos, a senior U.N. official, characterized the looting as “systematic, tactical, armed, crime-syndicate looting,” indicating a shift from earlier, smaller-scale thefts by desperate residents to organized criminal operations. The situation worsened after the Israeli military's invasion of Rafah in May, leading to a significant increase in aid truck hijackings.
Prices for essential goods have skyrocketed, with a 55-pound sack of flour in southern Gaza costing up to $220, compared to $10 in the north. Aid workers have accused Israel of neglecting the looting issue, while the U.N. maintains that its neutrality prevents Israeli soldiers from protecting aid convoys. Israel has countered that Hamas is responsible for the thefts, claiming that the police force is merely an extension of Hamas.
Recently, Israel has permitted some aid trucks to travel along the border with Egypt, allowing U.N. agencies to deliver some relief without encountering looters. However, this has not substantially alleviated the dire aid shortages, leading to desperate scenes among Gazans. In a recent incident at a bakery, a rush for affordable bread resulted in chaos, leaving several dead and injured.
Reports indicate that multiple gangs are involved in the looting, with Yasser Abu Shabab identified as a key figure in the organized thefts. Although he denied large-scale operations, he acknowledged that his group had raided several aid trucks. His gang reportedly dominates parts of Rafah, and they have been accused of selling stolen aid at inflated prices.
Amidst rising unrest, Hamas has attempted to reassert control by raiding areas where looting occurs, resulting in violence and casualties. Observers claim that the Israeli military has largely overlooked the looting, despite being responsible for security in the area.
Recent Israeli military actions have included targeting looters, with reports of an airstrike killing individuals who were stealing aid. Israeli officials have stated their commitment to addressing the looting issue, asserting that they do not provide immunity to criminal gangs.
Despite some military intervention, looters have continued to regroup and hijack aid trucks, leading to ongoing challenges in delivering essential supplies to the beleaguered population of Gaza.