The looting of humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza underscores Hamas’ declining ability to maintain control in the region. Armed groups seized 98 out of 109 aid trucks entering southern Gaza through the Kerem Shalom border crossing on November 16.
While it is unclear if the armed individuals are tied to any Palestinian militia, they are believed to be part of organized criminal groups that have supplanted Hamas’ police forces in many areas of the Gaza Strip.
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In a bid to address the situation, Hamas claimed to have conducted a joint operation with local family groups, resulting in the killing of 20 individuals accused of looting.
This cooperation with local groups highlights Hamas’ diminishing authority, as it has historically struggled against organized crime and local family factions for control in Gaza.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) spokesperson noted that aid convoys are prohibited from using armed escorts, leaving them vulnerable to ambushes by armed groups.
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Drivers reportedly rely on speed to avoid attacks. Despite efforts by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to facilitate the flow of aid, including plans to reopen the Kissufim border crossing to expand deliveries to northern Gaza, no evidence suggests the IDF is directly escorting aid convoys.
The looting incidents and the rise of criminal groups in Gaza reflect a significant erosion of Hamas’ governance and its capacity to maintain order.
This instability complicates humanitarian efforts and raises concerns about the distribution of aid to the people of Gaza, further highlighting the region’s complex and volatile security dynamics.
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