Israel army allows looting of aid convoys in Gaza

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are allowing armed Palestinians from Rafah to loot aid convoys entering Gaza and demand protection fees, according to international aid sources.

These armed groups frequently block aid shipments entering through the Karm Abu Salem Crossing, which the IDF has largely overlooked, the sources said. According to Haaretz, when some aid organisations refuse to pay, supplies often remain in warehouses under IDF control.

Moreover, attempts by local police to intervene result in clashes with Israeli forces, who consider them part of Hamas.

Since the IDF took control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing in May and Egypt closed it in response, access to goods has been severely restricted. Rafah had been Gaza’s main supply route, but now most aid is routed through the Karm Abu Salem Crossing.

Armed groups have taken control, making thefts so common that the UN now marks this stretch of road as “high-risk” due to lawlessness, reported Haaretz.

As aid trucks attempt to reach those in need, they often face improvised roadblocks or even gunfire along the route to Rafah, where gangs demand “transit fees” of about $4,000.

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Just a kilometre from Karm Abu Salem, near Rafah’s eastern neighbourhoods, lies what the IDF calls “the looting zone” – an area where most aid truck thefts occur, despite being under full IDF control. Israeli troops are stationed just metres away, and the Israel Air Force monitors the zone via drones, while ground look-outs keep watch. Soldiers familiar with the area say these looting incidents have become routine.

The IDF claims it recently opened an alternative route in southern Gaza to bypass the looting zone, though thefts have been reported along this route as well. Palestinians report that gangs still demand protection fees for aid trucks, regardless of the designated route or zone.

IDF Chief of Staff, Herzl Halevi, during a visit to the Southern Command, raised concerns about the humanitarian aid process, including reports that some soldiers are now refusing to engage with aid distribution.

Another significant barrier to aid delivery is cigarette smuggling. Since the blockade began over a year ago, cigarettes have been banned from entering Gaza legally. However, smugglers have developed a network that uses aid trucks to sneak cigarettes into Gaza, where they are sold for as much as $200 a pack.

This smuggling operation not only fuels looting but also places aid workers at greater risk. Aid agencies report that cigarettes are hidden in aid sacks in Egypt before entering Gaza and, while the IDF inspects every item, the smuggling continues unchecked. The agencies suggest that Israel could either prevent the smuggling at the border or allow cigarettes to enter legally to reduce the black market.

Additionally, Haaretz has obtained new accounts highlighting the social breakdown in Gaza. With the electricity network down for over a year, credit cards are unusable, forcing the economy to rely entirely on cash.

Only one ATM remains functional, located in Deir Al-Balah, but it is controlled by an armed group. Anyone withdrawing cash must pay a 30 per cent “fee” to these armed men.

The IDF spokesperson announced, “In light of the attempts by terrorist organisations to systematically exploit the transfer of aid, the IDF carries out targeted attacks against armed terrorists who loot the humanitarian aid.”

It added that “these actions are carried out as a matter of routine, according to the operational orders and while taking maximum caution, with an emphasis on focusing on attacking the terrorists and preventing damage to the transfer of the aid. The IDF acts in coordination with the international aid organisations to provide pre-emptive solutions and alternative means as part of the joint coordination for transferring the aid to the Gaza Strip.”

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