Hamas Executes Looters in Gaza Amid Starvation Under Israeli Blockade
Surge in Looting Incidents
Hamas has executed several alleged looters following a wave of attacks by armed gangs on food stores and community kitchens in the Gaza Strip this week, sources close to the Palestinian militant group said.
The looting has intensified Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, worsened by an Israeli blockade halting aid for two months.
Hamas officials accused some looters of collaborating with Israel, an allegation Israel has not addressed.
Hamas’ Crackdown
In one incident, Gaza's interior ministry reported a police officer was killed and others injured when an Israeli drone struck a police unit pursuing criminals in Gaza City.
The ministry stated on Saturday:
We will strike with an iron fist all these renegades, and we will take the necessary measures to deter them, no matter the cost, and we will not allow them to continue terrorizing citizens, threatening their lives, and stealing their property.
Interior Ministry, Gaza.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of Gaza’s government media office, said some looters operated under clan affiliations or as organized groups, some allegedly backed by Israel.
He confirmed “revolutionary execution rulings” were carried out against “several top criminals” involved.
Humanitarian Toll
Ahmed, a Gaza City resident who withheld his full name, told Reuters via a chat app:
Those gangs, some of them armed, have terrorized people, not only stealing food, but stopping some people on the roads and taking away their money and phones. [...] They aid the occupation in starving us; they must be dealt with as collaborators.
Ahmed, Gaza City resident.
The SAFA news agency reported that Hamas formed a 5,000-member force to combat looters, though Israeli drone strikes targeting armed Palestinians hinder these efforts.
Hamas imposed 9 p.m. curfews to restrict civilian movement and pursue criminals, as residents face growing food shortages and confinement to shrinking safe zones.