In the midst of an escalating humanitarian crisis, armed groups and civilians have attacked supply warehouses in northern Gaza. This comes after over two months of an intense blockade by Israel, leaving the area in need of basic supplies. The recent airstrikes by Israel have resulted in significant casualties, with more than a dozen people reported dead.
According to local sources and aid organizations, both armed and unarmed individuals have been breaking into warehouses owned by the United Nations and other aid entities, as well as looting bakeries and shops since mid-week. The looting, which has spread to urban areas, signals increasing desperation among Gaza’s civilian population.
In March, Israel halted the influx of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, a region housing more than two million residents. This followed the collapse of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, leaving the territory in dire straits not seen in nearly 19 months of conflict. Israel attributes these ongoing actions to gaining leverage against Hamas, which reportedly holds 59 hostages, most believed to be deceased. Nevertheless, the U.N. high commissioner has stated that using starvation as a military tactic constitutes a war crime.
The rise in looting is alarming aid groups, who worry about further breakdowns in law and order. Security sources reported that the disturbances intensified after aid trucks were rumored to have entered northern Gaza from the south. This led to a spree of looting, beginning Wednesday, including an incident where armed individuals targeted a soup kitchen linked to an international aid group at the al-Shati refugee camp.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency documented breaches at their Gaza City facilities, with medications being taken and their staff evacuated. A senior emergency officer described the looting as a result of unbearable deprivation. Among eyewitness accounts, the incursions by multiple armed men into United Nations warehouses pushed aside police and guards, although these facilities had been largely emptied beforehand.
Some witnesses described the chaos as organized, with numerous men reportedly exchanging gunfire with police on city streets. Amidst this turmoil, Israeli military drones and aircraft were observed in the vicinity.
The Israeli military, however, refrained from commenting on the specifics of their airstrikes without precise information. Over the recent days, Israeli strikes purportedly resulted in several deaths, including guards and a child, reported by the Hamas-run interior ministry. Furthermore, six suspects were killed and others wounded for looting-related activities.
In response, the interior ministry has set curfews in parts of the city, aiming to curb the violence. Some community leaders, including the prominent al-Najjar family, have vocally condemned the disorder, advocating for the respect and protection of both public and private property.
In regions like Beit Lahiya, food distribution has descended into chaos as families desperately attempt to obtain needed rations. Faten Al-Sabbagh, among those struggling, lamented the lack of accessible food amid rising prices and persistent salary issues.
Concurrently, the U.N.’s top court has concluded a session focused on how Israel should ensure that essential humanitarian aid reaches those in need in Gaza and the West Bank. Meanwhile, the unfolding military campaign in Gaza continues, leaving a significant toll, including casualties such as entire families and newlyweds, magnifying the humanitarian distress.