All articles tagged with #aid theft
Humanitarian aid trucks carrying baby formula in Gaza were robbed by armed individuals, identified by COGAT as Hamas, depriving thousands of malnourished children of vital supplies amid ongoing conflict and famine. UNICEF condemned the attack and called for respect of humanitarian efforts.
Gaza's aid routes have been overtaken by heavily-armed gangs, led by figures like Yasser Abu Shabab, who rob UN aid trucks with alleged tacit approval from the Israeli military. These gangs, formed along family lines, operate freely in IDF-controlled zones, stockpiling and reselling stolen goods at high prices. The situation has worsened since Israel's invasion of Rafah, with aid deliveries plummeting and up to 30% of aid being stolen. The IDF denies complicity, blaming Hamas, while local transporters and UN officials argue that such thefts couldn't occur without Israeli assent.
Hamas-linked security forces in Gaza have intensified a crackdown on aid theft and black market profiteering by shooting suspected profiteers in the legs. This violent response comes amid a severe shortage of aid and skyrocketing prices in the enclave, exacerbated by Israeli military actions that have dismantled local law enforcement. Despite efforts to impose price caps and regulate goods, the crisis persists, with many goods sold at inflated prices. The reactivation of a special operations unit, "Sehem," aims to curb the rampant theft and profiteering.