A chaotic scene unfolded in Gaza on Thursday as bakeries distributing food were overwhelmed by crowds and forced to close. The situation escalated when an aid convoy carrying flour was ambushed.
The Aid Convoy Incident
The convoy, consisting of 20 trucks coordinated by the World Food Programme (WFP), was en route from the Kerem Shalom crossing to a WFP warehouse in Deir al-Balah. Eyewitnesses described the attack, stating that armed looters shot at the convoy’s tires and attempted to steal goods.
- Eyewitness Accounts:
- “They shot at our tyres,” said one driver. “We couldn’t get away fast enough.”
- Another driver reported seeing masked men trying to steal cargo: “I saw five men wearing masks trying to steal our goods. They took everything except for two sacks of flour.”
The situation further deteriorated when gunfire erupted from behind the convoy, prompting drivers to flee towards Kerem Shalom. One eyewitness recounted, “There were bullets flying everywhere,” adding that a bullet hit his car door.
Response and Security Concerns
Hamas security officials responded quickly but soon found themselves targeted by an Israeli drone strike as they attempted to restore order in central Gaza. This confrontation highlights a deteriorating security situation in Gaza, where governance has collapsed and lawlessness has spread since Hamas seized power last year. This takeover followed elections that Israel deemed illegitimate, and Western countries boycotted due to Hamas’s militant activities against Israel.
Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Hunger continues to spread across this coastal territory, where limited food supplies trickle in following a partial lifting of an Israeli blockade imposed after Hamas took control over two years ago. This blockade was enacted amid a devastating war with Israel that resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths and significant destruction of infrastructure.
- Current Situation:
- Israel maintains it is still enforcing its blockade despite easing restrictions on imports into Gaza earlier this month due to international pressure over widespread hunger.
- In recent weeks, residents have been queuing outside bakeries for bread, but many have been unable to obtain any due to a lack of ingredients such as wheat or fuel for ovens.
- Bakeries are struggling with shortages caused by fuel shortages, which are also affecting other essential services, including hospitals.
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