Gaza Aid Supplies Hit by Looting as Hamas Ceasefire Response Remains Pending

Gaza Aid Supplies Hit by Looting as Hamas Ceasefire Response Remains Pending

Amid ongoing conflict and fragile ceasefire negotiations, aid supplies entering the Gaza Strip are increasingly vulnerable. Reports indicate that armed men hijacked dozens of aid trucks overnight, and desperate Palestinians joined in to take supplies, highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

The incident underscores the dangerous and unstable security situation hampering the delivery of vital humanitarian aid. Despite the easing of a long-standing Israeli blockade—allowing some trucks from the World Food Programme and other international agencies—repeated acts of looting and armed interference have severely limited aid access.

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A new effort by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been delivering meals and food packages at designated sites, but aid groups refuse to cooperate with the GHF, citing concerns about neutrality. They emphasize that the amount of aid reaching Gaza falls far short of needs, and the situation risks spiraling into famine.

The World Food Programme reported that 77 trucks carrying flour were halted en route to Gaza last night, with some supplies stolen by hungry and desperate people. Palestinians are starving, with some not having had bread for weeks, yet armed groups have attacked aid convoys, seizing supplies meant for civilians.

Israel claims it is facilitating aid deliveries and endorsing the GHF distribution centers, accusing Hamas of stealing supplies and using them to strengthen its hold on Gaza. Hamas denies these allegations, asserting they are combatting looting and theft among their ranks.

Since the escalation of hostilities following Hamas's attack on southern Israel in October 2023—which resulted in the death of over 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 251 hostages—the Gaza Strip has been heavily bombed, leaving over 54,000 Palestinians dead and most of the region’s infrastructure destroyed.