Theft and looting have resurfaced in the Gaza Strip, becoming more intense and organized following a brief pause during the previous ceasefire. This resurgence comes as the food crisis in Gaza reaches a critical stage, with residents struggling to find enough to eat.

These incidents have taken on a more systematic character, raising concerns about escalating lawlessness in the besieged territory.

Armed groups have reportedly attacked warehouses belonging to international organizations still providing aid in Gaza. These groups storm the warehouses at gunpoint, emptying them of their food supplies, while nearby residents often rush in to seize whatever remains of the aid.

Thefts have not been limited to international aid warehouses. Commercial shops in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood, one of the city’s main commercial districts, have also been targeted.

The nature of these attacks suggests that the perpetrators are not only desperate, hungry families but also organized gangs exploiting the crisis for personal gain, amid the total collapse of the security system.

Looting, which before the ceasefire was mainly confined to some Bedouin families living in the eastern areas of Gaza near Israeli military positions, has now spread into the heart of the cities, in a dangerous new development.

One of the most shocking incidents involved the looting of the “Al-Mashtal” hotel, which overlooks the Gaza beachfront and housed the storage facilities of the “Gaza Al-Ezza Kitchens,” a humanitarian initiative managed by well-known Palestinian businessman Bashar Masri.

An armed group reportedly broke into the hotel, looting all the food supplies stored inside. Nearby residents then poured into the building, seizing whatever remained.

Masri reacted to the incident in a Facebook post, expressing his shock and strong condemnation, saying, “These actions do not reflect the morals of our people, nor do they align with our national and humanitarian values. May God be with our people in these difficult times.”

Masri added, “Our people in Gaza are starving, and our children are waiting for a meal to preserve what remains of their dignity amid this unjust war. Stealing what little daily sustenance they have left is a moral crime that cannot be justified under any circumstances. What we need now is to protect humanitarian institutions, not target them.”

Additionally, the main warehouse of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in western Gaza City also reportedly faced an attempted break-in and theft by another armed group.

Streets at the Mercy of Chaos

The wave of theft and looting in Gaza is no longer limited to warehouses and shops. It has now spread to the streets, where armed robbers have begun targeting drivers and motorcyclists, stealing their phones and personal belongings at gunpoint.

Residents now feel as though a new threat has joined the relentless Israeli bombardment and worsening hunger, as the complete closure of crossings by Israeli authorities has cut off access to even the most basic staples, like wheat.

As the security situation deteriorates, several well-known Palestinian families have issued public statements condemning the growing lawlessness and calling for collective responsibility to confront these behaviors, which they describe as “alien to Palestinian values” and a serious affront to the history of national resistance.

In a notable grassroots effort, the Ghoul family volunteered to protect the Sheikh Hamad Rehabilitation Hospital for Artificial Limbs in northern Gaza, preventing looters from attacking the facility.

Meanwhile, local community groups and factions have formed committees to secure key streets and impose partial curfews. However, these efforts have faced significant challenges and have so far been unable to fully contain the wave of theft.

Later, Israeli surveillance drones targeted a group of suspected armed thieves on Revolution Street in western Gaza City, resulting in several deaths and injuries.

Amid this chaotic scene, a group calling itself the “Popular Campaign to Combat Thieves and Bandits” issued a statement warning that “the streets of Gaza are witnessing a dangerous collapse in the absence of security forces and the ongoing massacres.” The statement claimed that “thieves and bandits are acting without fear of punishment,” and that this lawlessness directly serves the interests of the Israeli occupation by spreading chaos and fragmenting the social fabric.

The campaign accused the Israeli occupation of deliberately targeting Palestinian security forces while ignoring these armed thieves, arguing that this strategy aims to destroy the social safety net in Gaza.

The campaign also called on local leaders, elders, and family heads to take a more active role in supporting grassroots efforts and holding those responsible accountable through traditional tribal mechanisms, given the collapse of legal systems and the ongoing destruction of Gaza’s security infrastructure by Israeli strikes.

Total Security Paralysis

The complete breakdown of security in Gaza is visible to all. There are no signs of law enforcement, no police patrols to regulate traffic or protect markets, as Israeli forces continue to target any movement by security personnel, particularly those affiliated with Hamas.

The territory has effectively become a lawless zone, where the strong prey on the weak, prices spiral out of control, and traders manipulate the markets without oversight. The cost of basic goods has soared beyond the reach of impoverished residents.

This catastrophic situation demands an immediate response from Palestinian factions, civil society organizations, and local leaders to prevent a total collapse of the social fabric and to restore a minimum level of order, dignity, and security for Gaza’s beleaguered population.