Ten minutes after leaving the Karem Abou Salem crossing, controlled by Israel, at the far east of Rafah, southern Gaza, truck driver Mohammed Hamed was ambushed. Hamed was transporting 20 boxes of relief aid when a group of armed men blocked his path by placing stones in the middle of Salah al-Din Road.

The masked gunmen forced Hamid out of the truck, tied him up, and placed him in the back with the aid boxes. They then drove the truck to agricultural land near the Gaza-Israel border, unloaded 18 of the boxes, and left Hamid and his truck before fleeing the scene.

The truck that the gunmen targeted was one of hundreds that face daily theft on Salah al-Din Road, which links the Karem Abou Salem crossing in the east to other areas in southern Gaza.

The theft-prone stretch of road extends geographically from the Karam Abou Salem crossing to the Gaza European Hospital. It lies close to the Israeli border, where Israeli forces are stationed on both the eastern and western sides, covering an area of approximately seven kilometers.

Most of the thefts are carried out by groups of local Bedouins residing east of Rafah. These groups have formed armed gangs that block the road, intercept trucks, steal relief aid, and commercial goods, and then resell them at inflated prices in local markets.

Despite families of these gang members issuing statements condemning their actions and calling for an end to the roadblocks and robberies, the crimes persist.

A correspondent from Daraj observed boxes of stolen goods in Gaza markets. These boxes, containing cleaning supplies, food items, and other relief materials, bore labels indicating they were United Nations aid not intended for sale. Nevertheless, traders purchasing the stolen goods from thieves reintroduce them to the market, where they sell them at higher prices.

Organized Gangs

Jihad Isleem, Secretary of the Private Transport Association in Gaza, confirmed that aid convoys entering Gaza are regularly looted by organized gangs on Salah al-Din Road.

“These gunmen intercept the trucks, force the drivers into agricultural areas, and then seize the aid and traders’ goods after assaulting the drivers,” Isleem told Daraj.

He explained that “these gangs shoot directly at the drivers to stop them and take control of the aid. So far, nine drivers have been killed by their bullets.”

Islim estimated the value of stolen goods from these trucks to be in the millions of dollars, including medical supplies, tents, food items, and water.

Theft of UN Aid

UN Secretary-General António Guterres previously confirmed that “the United Nations has been prevented from coordinating with the Palestinian civil police to secure humanitarian aid in Gaza amidst the chaos and complete lack of security in the area.”

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has also noted that “the breakdown of public order and safety in Gaza increasingly threatens humanitarian operations and aid workers in the region.”

“In addition to ongoing conflict, criminal activities and the risk of theft have effectively hindered humanitarian access to essential sites,” said an OCHA spokesperson.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN, noted that the organization is working with its partners and relevant parties to address the lack of public order and safety, as well as other obstacles hindering meaningful humanitarian response.

During a conference held last June, he added that “the Israeli authorities, as the occupying power, must restore public order and safety, facilitating secure humanitarian access so that aid can reach civilians in need.”

OCHA reported that relief workers are tirelessly trying to restore essential services in northern Gaza’s health facilities, where the healthcare system is struggling to cope with massive demands in the absence of field hospitals.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), through its media advisor Adnan Abu Hasna, confirmed that “thousands of tons of aid sent to Gaza have been stolen by organized gangs on Salah al-Din Road in Rafah.”

“Looting of aid convoys near the Karem Abou Salem crossing continues, with hundreds of trucks, including those carrying UNRWA medical supplies, falling victim to these robberies,” Abu Hasna said in a statement to Daraj.

He emphasized that “everything is being seized by these thieves amid the absence of security and the lack of safety for the convoys entering via the Karam Abou Salem commercial crossing. Previously, the Israeli army targeted Palestinian civil police who were securing aid entry, forcing them to cease operations.”

Abu Hasna pointed out that “some local groups volunteered to secure the aid convoys, but they were also targeted. With the absence of order and widespread chaos, humanitarian efforts have been severely impacted.” According to Abu Hasna, UNRWA has not contracted anyone to secure the delivery of its aid to Gaza.

Hussein Abu Ayada, Director of the Tribal Reconciliation Forum in Rafah, said that “the looting on Salah al-Din Road is directed by Israel, as the area where the robberies occur is under Israeli control and classified as a dangerous zone.”

“These thieves block the road and steal aid and traders’ goods, which has harmed people and obstructed access to the essentials they need,” Abu Ayada told Daraj.

He explained that “many organizations that deliver aid to Gaza have halted their work due to the thefts and robberies occurring along these routes.” He also noted that “several families have caught their relatives involved in these crimes and disowned those who insisted on continuing these thefts.”

Alaa al-Aklouk, head of the “Tribal Reconciliation Forum,” described the looting as “a shameful and unacceptable act condemned by all national and tribal factions in Palestine.”

“This behavior is unethical, and it cannot be attributed to the Palestinian people. It is a treacherous act that reflects chaos and lawlessness, which ultimately serves Israeli interests,” al-Aklouk said in an interview with Daraj.

He emphasized that “some families and tribes have disowned their members involved in these acts,” adding that “the thefts are being carried out under the cover of Israeli control, especially as they occur in an area under occupation.”

Sowing Chaos

Akef al-Masri, Commissioner General of Palestinian Tribal Affairs in Gaza, said that “the theft and looting of humanitarian aid entering Gaza is a negative phenomenon foreign to Palestinian society.” He explained to “Daraj” that “it began after the Israeli targeting of police forces, which halted their activities, leaving a security vacuum that only benefits the Israeli occupation.”

“The Higher Authority for Tribal Affairs in Gaza strongly condemns these negative phenomena and warns the Palestinian people against falling into Israel’s scheme, which aims to incite chaos and internal conflicts, ultimately eroding the social fabric and civil peace, weakening the Palestinian front,” said al-Masri.

He warned that this “dangerous phenomenon threatens to devastate society, adding to the widespread hunger, displacement, and death seen everywhere.”