Local residents and humanitarian workers have reported an increase in the looting of supply warehouses in northern Gaza, while conditions continue to deteriorate a little more than two months in Israel's aid blockade.
Eye witnesses, assistance organizations and internal communications shared between security personnel working for humanitarian groups have declared to the media that armed and unarmed people have been training in warehouses, bakeries and stores since Wednesday.
The blockade has remained in place since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put an end to the most recent ceasefire with Hamas in March. Consequently, the enclave densely populated by more than two million people has been plunged into what has been considered the most humanitarian crisis since the start of the conflict almost 19 months ago.
The Israeli authorities argue that the restrictions and military pressure aim to force Hamas to release the 59 hostages which are still in captivity – of which 24 are alleged dead – and to dismantle the militant infrastructure of the organization.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights previously declared that depriving civil civilians as a war tactic is equivalent to a war crime.
Aid agencies have warned that the civilian population of Gaza is now on the verge of famine. It is more and more worrying that the climbing of despair can lead to a complete break in social order. While looting occurred periodically during the war, humanitarian workers note that this week's incidents mark a significant change – being more chaotic and extending further in urban centers.
Looters looking for food and medical supplies
The latest wave of looting began on Wednesday evening in Gaza City, following reports that humanitarian trucks had arrived in the north of the southern region. A rescue worker said that armed people were targeting a bakery depending on the rumors that he contained food reserves.
When it turned out to be empty, the group carried out a popular soup operated by an international aid agency in the Al-Shati refugee camp, according to a security update broadcast that evening.
The United Nations Agence on Rescue and Works (UNRWA) said its staff was safely withdrawn on Wednesday after thousands of people were interrupted in its field office in Gaza City and took medical supplies. Louise Waterridge, a senior UNRWA emergency official, described looting as “the direct result of unbearable and prolonged deprivation”.
Pillage persisted until Friday evening. According to three witnesses, dozens of armed men have made their way in at least two United Nations storage facilities, crushing the police and the local guards responsible for protecting them. The warehouses were already widely exhausted before break -ins occur.
“” There were organized gangs, “said Ahmed Abu Awad, a Western Gaza City resident, where some incidents took place.
Another room, Yahya Youssef, said that he had observed two consecutive nights of armed confrontations between looters and security forces in the streets of the western city of Gaza, near the premises used by the UN and the help organizations.
Israeli night attacks kill at least 17 Palestinians
The Israeli air strikes carried out during the night in the city of southern Gazan, Khan Younis, killed at least 17 Palestinians, according to local hospital files.
One of the strikes targeted a house in the city's refugee camp, killing 11 members of the same family, confirmed the Nasser hospital. Among the victims were three women and three children, including two brothers and sisters, including a year and the other, said the hospital.
Another air strike hit a house in the Batn Al-Samin region of Khan Younis. In addition, two other people were reported dead in a separate strike in another house in the city, the hospital added.
Editor • Lucy gave
