Organized Crime Gangs Plundering Aid Supplies in Gaza, Causing Food Shortages for Millions of Palestinians

tel aviv - Plundering by organized crime gangs in Gaza is leading to severe food shortages for two million Palestinians, as humanitarian aid convoys are increasingly targeted with violence.

Plundering by criminal gangs in Gaza has escalated with more violence in recent times, with nearly a hundred aid trucks being looted over the weekend, some even being attacked with grenades. The United Nations has expressed concerns over the lack of law enforcement in Gaza, hindering the work of aid workers.

Initially, it was desperate civilians resorting to looting, but now it is the work of well-organized gangs. The situation worsened abruptly with the closure of the border with Egypt following Israel's attack on Rafah.

Since then, almost all aid trucks enter Gaza through the Israeli crossing at Kerem Shalom, passing through areas controlled by criminal gangs. The Israeli army refers to this area as 'the plunder zone'. According to aid organizations, soldiers often watch from a distance as looters ambush convoys.

The Washington Post obtained an internal UN document indicating that these criminal groups benefit from the passive, if not 'protective', stance of the Israeli army. One gang leader has reportedly established a 'military-like compound' in an area supposedly 'controlled and monitored' by the army.

Aid agencies have long complained about unsafe routes and lack of security. The military refuses to escort aid convoys, citing concerns that soldiers might accidentally harm or kill aid workers, leading to international backlash. The army denies a hesitant approach, claiming it ensures aid reaches the people.

The criminal gangs near Kerem Shalom are not allied with Hamas; in fact, Hamas claims to have shot dead twenty looters recently. The group reportedly also cracks down on those trying to sell stolen goods on the black market at high prices.

These gangs, predominantly Bedouins, traditionally make money through cigarette smuggling. Since the war started, Israel officially prohibits tobacco from entering Gaza, prompting these criminals to establish a new network with Egyptian counterparts. Bedouins in Egypt hide cigarettes among aid supplies.

Initially, these gangs mainly targeted cigarettes, as a pack now costs hundreds of dollars in Gaza. This was the primary reason for looting trucks, leaving most aid supplies for the populace. However, in recent months, they have also taken these items. According to the UN, over 25 million dollars' worth of aid supplies were stolen last summer, almost half of the World Food Programme's total assistance.

These thefts hamper aid delivery in southern Gaza, where the majority of Palestinians reside. The northern region is under heavy Israeli military operation, with few aid supplies reaching the area as residents flee. Last month saw the lowest number of aid trucks entering Gaza since the war began.

Under US pressure, threatening to halt certain weapon deliveries to Israel, the situation has slightly improved. According to the UN, Yasser Abu Shabab of the Tarabin tribe in southeast Gaza is a key figure in the looting, overseeing a group of about a hundred criminals carrying out the thefts. They have already killed multiple truck drivers in recent months.

Previously, these convoys were protected by Hamas police until they were targeted by the army. Now, no one maintains public order, infuriating aid organizations that have repeatedly raised concerns with the army about the situation near Kerem Shalom, the only place where armed Palestinians can roam freely without being shot at immediately.