Gaza police battle gang members accused of stealing humanitarian aid
A Palestinian carries an aid box distributed by UNRWA in Deir el-Balah on 4 November 2024
Ahmed Aziz and Nader Durgham report in Middle East Eye on 19 November 2024:
At least 20 gang members accused of stealing humanitarian aid were killed in clashes with Gaza’s police forces on Monday, the Palestinian enclave’s interior ministry said.
In recent weeks, armed men have descended on aid convoys entering southern Gaza, severely hampering relief efforts and leaving Palestinians hungry.
The looting has “severely impacted society and led to signs of famine in southern Gaza”, according to the ministry, who said the police operation was done “in cooperation with tribal committees” and “will not be the last”.
Residents of southern Gaza described the gangs, who appear to operate with implicit Israeli backing, as making their already difficult situation all the more nightmarish.
Ever since the Israeli military shut down Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt, Israel has had complete control over what can enter or leave the besieged enclave.
Aid groups say Israel has refused to allow anywhere near enough humanitarian assistance into Gaza. What little does make it through to southern Gaza comes through the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, which leads to an area where powerful Bedouin families, some of which are involved in armed gangs, hold significant sway.
These areas are now under Israeli military control, yet Palestinians have said the gangs have been able to loot any aid trucks with impunity until the Gaza police stepped in on Monday.
Gaza’s interior ministry said its operation was “the beginning of a broad security campaign that has been long planned and will expand to include everyone involved in the theft of aid trucks”.
An internal UN memo obtained by the Washington Post concluded in October that the gangs “may be benefiting from a passive if not active benevolence” or “protection” from the Israeli army. The memo said that one gang leader established a “military like compound” in an area “restricted, controlled and patrolled” by the Israeli army.
On Saturday alone, 98 out of 109 trucks carrying UN food aid from Kerem Shalom were ransacked by armed men.