Gaza aid looting surges amid chaos of Israeli incursion

Looting is increasingly threatening the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. A humanitarian convoy of more than 100 trucks loaded with food was violently attacked in Gaza last weekend in the worst incident of its kind since the start of the war, the U.N. agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said on Monday. The looting — likely perpetrated by a criminal gang — exposes the breakdown of law and order in the Gaza Strip due to Israel’s military offensive, as well as the growing difficulties in delivering aid amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis that is rapidly deteriorating.

According to U.N. Secretary-General’s spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, the raided convoy — which was carrying aid from the World Food Program (WFP) and UNRWA — was scheduled to leave on Sunday but was instructed by the Israeli military to leave a day earlier, on Saturday morning, via an alternative, unknown route. The attack occurred shortly after the trucks — 109 in total — entered southern Gaza. Most of the vehicles (97 according to UNRWA; 98 according to Dujarric) were stopped at gunpoint and the drivers forced to unload the aid. The current location of the drivers remains unknown. At least 11 trucks reached their destination, a warehouse in the center of Gaza.

UNRWA has strongly criticized Israeli authorities for continuing to fail to uphold their legal obligation to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s population. International law requires that aid is protected and reaches civilians without obstruction. UNRWA says that this responsibility extends to the point where aid is received by civilians. Saturday’s raid took place near the Karem Abu Salem border crossing between southern Israel and Gaza, Dujarric said. Since the beginning of the year, this has been the main gateway for humanitarian aid into Gaza. Most of the looting takes place in this area, despite it being effectively controlled by the Israeli army.

Israeli authorities previously accused Hamas of looting aid, but without hard evidence, and the situation in Gaza is more complex. Aid agencies say shortages of basic supplies as a result of Israel’s blockades have created a desperate environment that fosters looting and profiteering. According to these agencies, the only sustainable solution is to dramatically increase the flow of aid. However, October saw the lowest number of aid trucks entering Gaza since the war began. Data from the U.N. and Israeli authorities show that the flow of goods fell by roughly 75% compared to the peak in April, which itself marked less than half the pre-war levels.

Dujarric noted that recent measures by Israel, including the opening of a new border crossing at Kissufim in central Gaza, have done little to improve the situation due to ongoing security challenges. And UNRWA — which has long struggled to find truck drivers willing to collect humanitarian aid due to the risk of looting — warned that without immediate intervention, food shortages in Gaza will worsen, further endangering the two million people who rely on aid to survive. The situation is particularly critical in northern Gaza, which remains under siege by the Israeli army. Experts warn that famine conditions may already be emerging in this area.

In an effort to reassert some control, the Gazan Interior Ministry announced on Hamas-controlled Al Aqsa television on Monday that security forces, in cooperation with tribal committees, had killed over 20 individuals during an operation targeting gangs involved in looting humanitarian aid. They emphasized that this was the beginning of a broader campaign to combat such actions. And in an apparent attempt to avoid stoking local unrest, the ministry clarified that while members of certain clans were implicated in these raids, this would not tarnish their family reputations.

Despite these efforts, doubts remain about the Gazan Interior Ministry’s ability to address the growing challenge. The increasing frequency and scale of looting stem from the breakdown of law and order caused by the Israeli military offensive, which has severely damaged the Gaza Strip’s civil infrastructure, including police forces and aid management officials. This power vacuum has been partly filled by organized crime groups. Humanitarian agencies warn that no substantial increase in aid flows will be possible until a new and functional police force is established — a step Israeli authorities have so far opposed. The Gazan Interior Ministry includes members affiliated with Hamas and others who are not.

The rise of gangs capable of orchestrating large-scale looting, like last Saturday’s raid, also raises critical questions about the role and priorities of the Israeli army, which controls practically all of Gaza. Most looting incidents occur in southeastern Gaza, near areas where Israeli troops are stationed. In the past year, Israeli forces have been notably more aggressive in targeting local law enforcement officials than in confronting organized crime groups. The Israeli military did not respond to EL PAÍS questions regarding these issues.

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