Humanitarian Convoys in Gaza Targeted by Looters Amid Escalating Crisis Following Israeli Shelling
Although 43 trucks managed to reach their destination and deliver aid to designated warehouses, the loss of 23 vehicles represents a severe blow to humanitarian efforts in a territory where food and resource shortages are alarming. Dec 23, 2024 Photo: EFE
December 23, 2024 Hour: 6:54 pm
This incident occurs against a backdrop of growing insecurity in Gaza, where gangs of looters have proliferated amid the power vacuum left by the weakening of Palestinian security forces.
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Israel Has Only Allowed 12 Trucks of Food Into Gaza in the Past Two Months
Yesterday, marauding groups attacked 23 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, exploiting the chaos created by recent Israeli airstrikes. This information was confirmed by the UN, which underscored the seriousness of the situation during a press conference in New York.
The deputy spokesperson for the UN General Secretariat, Stéphanie Tremblay, detailed that the assault occurred in the “Philadelphia corridor,” an area that has become an alternative route for the World Food Programme (WFP) following intensified attacks in other regions.
Although 43 trucks managed to reach their destination and deliver aid to designated warehouses, the loss of 23 vehicles represents a severe blow to humanitarian efforts in a territory where food and resource shortages are alarming.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of growing insecurity in Gaza, where gangs of looters have proliferated amid the power vacuum left by the weakening of Palestinian security forces.
The UN has repeatedly blamed Israel for the deterioration of law and order in the region, emphasizing that continuous bombing has contributed to creating an environment conducive to crime.
The WFP convoy had started using this new route after receiving security assurances from Israeli authorities. However, nearby shelling forced the Israeli armed forces to halt part of the convoy, allowing looters to quickly seize the trucks, whose current whereabouts remain unknown.
This is not an isolated incident; on December 12, another similar assault resulted in the theft of 80 vehicles in the same area. The current situation is aggravated by Israel’s policy of allowing limited humanitarian aid, which has led to a widespread food crisis and encouraged criminal gangs to exploit this shortfall.
Autor: MLM
Fuente: EFE
