Residents and sources close to Hamas report that fighters from Hamas and other factions in Gaza have formed a new armed force aimed at preventing gangs from looting aid convoys, following a significant rise in the theft of limited supplies.
Since its establishment this month in response to growing public frustration over aid seizures and price gouging, the newly created force has conducted multiple operations, ambushing looters and killing several during armed confrontations, according to the sources.
The efforts by Hamas to take charge of securing aid supplies highlight the challenges Israel will encounter in a post-war Gaza, as there are few viable alternatives to a group it has attempted to dismantle for over a year, claiming it should have no governing role.
Israel has accused Hamas of hijacking aid, while Hamas denies these claims and accuses Israel of trying to incite chaos in Gaza by targeting the police who protect aid convoys.
In the midst of the turmoil caused by Israel’s military actions, armed gangs have increasingly targeted supply convoys, hijacking trucks and selling the stolen goods at exorbitant prices in Gaza markets.
The shortages have not only fueled anger towards the Israeli military but have also raised questions about Hamas’ ability to control the situation, as it appears incapable of curbing the looters.
“We are united against the thieves and looters so we can live and eat… now you are forced to buy from a thief,” stated Diyaa al-Nasara near a funeral for a Hamas fighter who died in clashes with looters.
The newly established anti-looting force, comprised of well-equipped fighters from Hamas and affiliated groups, has been dubbed “The Popular and Revolutionary Committees” and is prepared to open fire on hijackers who refuse to surrender, according to a Hamas official who requested anonymity.
This official noted that the group operates in central and southern Gaza and has executed at least 15 missions to date, including eliminating several armed gang members.
Widespread hunger
As Israel’s extensive war in Gaza continues, launched in response to Hamas’s deadly attacks on 7 October 2023, severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essential goods have led to widespread hunger and suffering among the civilian population.
Last month, Israel halted the importation of commercial goods, allowing only aid trucks to enter Gaza, which have carried a fraction of what relief organizations state is necessary for a region where most inhabitants have lost their homes and possess little financial means.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to deliver aid,” remarked WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris after a series of looting reports over the weekend.
Prior to the conflict, a sack of flour cost $10 (€9.50) or $15 (€14), and a kilogram of milk powder was priced at 30 shekels (€8). Currently, traders report that flour sells for $100 (€95) and milk powder for 300 shekels (€76).
Some residents in Gaza have expressed a desire for Hamas to take action against the looters.
“There is an ongoing campaign against thieves, which we are witnessing. If this campaign persists and aid flows in, prices will decrease, as the stolen aid is currently being sold at inflated prices in the markets,” stated Shaban, an engineer displaced from Gaza City and now residing in Deir Al-Balah.
After nearly 100 trucks were looted the previous week, Hamas launched an attack on an armed group gathering near a crossing where aid trucks typically enter, firing heavily and reportedly killing at least 20 of them, according to local residents and Hamas’s Aqsa television.
Witnesses recounted an additional confrontation on Saturday when Hamas fighters in two vehicles pursued suspects of looting in another vehicle, resulting in the suspects’ deaths.
The Hamas official asserted that this force demonstrates the group’s ongoing governance in Gaza.
“Hamas as a movement remains, regardless of public opinion. Hamas as a governing body still exists, albeit less powerful than before, but it continues to function, striving to serve the populace in all areas of displacement,” he commented.
US imposes sanctions on senior Hamas officials
The US Treasury Department has enacted sanctions against six senior Hamas officials, in further measures against the group as Washington pursues a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.
In a statement, the Treasury noted that the sanctions targeted representatives of the group operating internationally, a senior member of Hamas’s military wing, and individuals involved in fundraising and weapons smuggling to Gaza.
“Hamas continues to rely on key officials who appear to hold legitimate, public-facing roles within the group, yet who enable their terrorist activities, represent their interests abroad, and coordinate the flow of funds and supplies into Gaza,” stated Bradley Smith, Treasury’s Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
Among those sanctioned was Abd al-Rahman Ismail abd al-Rahman Ghanimat, a long-standing member of Hamas’s military branch now operating from Turkey, accused by the US Treasury of involvement in multiple terrorist attacks.
In addition, two other officials based in Turkey, another in Gaza, and a spokesperson for the group were included in the sanctions, according to the Treasury Department.
The US recently cautioned Turkey against providing a haven for Hamas leaders, asserting that the US believes individuals associated with what it categorizes as a terrorist organization should not be able to reside comfortably.
When asked about reports that some Hamas leaders had relocated to Turkey from Qatar, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller refrained from confirming or denying the reports but indicated he could not dispute them.
He added that the US intends to convey to Turkey that relations with Hamas can no longer continue as usual.
Hamas-led gunmen launched an attack on Israel in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
Palestinian health officials have reported that more than 43,500 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli actions over the past year.
