Amid an intensifying humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel has halted the entry of aid into the northern region while continuing supplies through the south, citing concerns that Hamas is seizing aid intended for civilians. The move, confirmed by two officials, follows the circulation of videos showing masked men on aid trucks, sparking debate over whether these were Hamas operatives or clan members protecting food deliveries for starving families.
Israel’s Concerns and Hamas Denials
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli military has been instructed to present a plan within two days to prevent Hamas from taking control of aid. They referenced new intelligence suggesting that aid supplies in northern Gaza were being seized by Hamas, though details of the evidence remain undisclosed.
A video shared by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett showed masked men, some armed, on aid trucks. Bennett claimed the footage proved Hamas was taking control of aid allowed into Gaza by Israel, an accusation swiftly denied by Hamas. The militant group, which has ruled Gaza for over two decades but now controls limited areas after nearly two years of conflict, stated it had no involvement in seizing aid supplies.
Clan Protection and Acute Shortages
The Higher Commission for Tribal Affairs in Gaza clarified that the masked men seen in the video were members of local clans who had organised protection for the aid convoys to prevent looting. “The clans came to form a stance to prevent the aggressors and thieves from stealing the food that belongs to our people,” said Abu Salman Al Moghani, a representative of the Gazan clans. The commission emphasised that the process was managed solely through tribal efforts, without the participation of any Palestinian faction, including Hamas.
Amjad al-Shawa, head of an umbrella group for Palestinian NGOs, stated that the aid protected by clans was being distributed to vulnerable families amidst an acute shortage of food and essential supplies. After nearly two years of military operations that have displaced the majority of Gaza’s two million residents, looting of aid trucks and warehouses has become frequent, driven by desperation among the population.
Israel has long accused Hamas of diverting aid to its fighters or selling supplies to fund its operations, claims that Hamas denies. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the U.S. and Israel, stated on Thursday that it was the only organisation allowed to distribute food in Gaza, exempt from the temporary suspension affecting other aid deliveries.
Rising Death Toll Amid Conflict
The ongoing conflict, which began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken into Gaza, has escalated into a devastating humanitarian crisis. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 56,000 Palestinians, the majority civilians, according to local health authorities.
In the past two days alone, at least 118 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including some near aid distribution points, underlining the volatile environment in which humanitarian efforts are being undertaken. Meanwhile, twenty hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, with Hamas reportedly holding the bodies of 30 deceased captives.
As debates continue over the control and distribution of aid in Gaza, the suspension of northern aid entry raises fresh concerns over worsening conditions for civilians, further complicating an already dire humanitarian situation as the conflict shows no signs of resolution.
