The Hamas-controlled Gaza Interior Ministry announced on Monday that more than 20 Palestinian residents of Gaza had been killed in an “anti-crime operation” carried out by Hamas' “security forces” and “tribal committees.”
In other words, Hamas killed at least 20 Palestinians over the weekend on suspicion of stealing humanitarian aid from a United Nations convoy.
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“Today's security operation is not the last. It is the beginning of a long-planned large-scale security operation, which will be expanded to include everyone involved in the theft from the aid truck,” Gaza's Interior Ministry said. the official said. said Hamas media agency.
“Security forces will punish those involved in aiding and abetting thieves with an iron hand,” he warned.
“The security operation is not directed against the tribes themselves, but its aim is to eradicate the phenomenon of theft from trucks, which has a serious impact on society and is causing signs of famine in the southern Gaza Strip,” they claimed. did.
“Security forces are proud of the Palestinian tribes of eastern Rafah and the involvement of some of them in the theft scheme will not negatively impact the history of these clans, which have produced hundreds of martyrs. No,” the Hamas official said.
Palestinians are divided into numerous tribes and clans, which frequently declare themselves fully subordinate to the central government in Gaza and the West Bank. The tribe's leadership has an uneasy relationship with groups like Hamas. claim The Israelis want to abolish the government and replace it with a council of tribal leaders, but they may not be interested in producing martyrs to fuel the bloody ambitions of terrorist masterminds.
Theft of humanitarian aid led to Hamas allegedly shooting dozens of Palestinians occurred On Saturday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) dispatched a convoy of 109 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to southern Gaza.
A group of looters attacked the convoy, shot and killed several drivers, and stole humanitarian supplies and most of the truck. Only 11 of the UN vehicles reached their destination. UNRWA has been slow to report how many casualties there have been and how much aid has been stolen.
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While the United Nations appears to believe the looting was carried out by desperate Gazan civilians, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have long accused Hamas of commandeering aid convoys. Hamas settled on blaming “occupation forces,” or “bandit gangs” working with the Israel Defense Forces.
“Security forces monitor conversations between the thieves and the occupation forces, conceal their actions, direct their missions, and ensure that personnel from the occupation forces' internal security forces provide them with security. “This was the intended purpose,” Gaza's interior ministry said.
“Security forces updated Palestinian organizations on the action plan, which received widespread blessings from the National Front,” the statement concluded.
According to UNRWA, the IDF asked the convoy to enter Gaza a day earlier than scheduled and use an “unaccustomed alternative route.” UNRWA officials complained that the last-minute green light and route changes posed “huge logistical risks” for drivers.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations condemned Through a spokesperson on Tuesday, it clarified its response to both the looting and murderous Hamas attacks.
“Armed looting is organized and must stop immediately. It is hampering life-saving operations and further endangering the lives of our personnel,” said spokesman Céphane Dujarric.
“However, the use of law enforcement operations must be lawful, necessary and appropriate,” Dujarric added.
On Tuesday, washington post obtained An internal UN memo claims that looting groups in the Gaza Strip may benefit from “passive, if not active, charity” and even “protection” from the IDF.
The memo said one of the Gaza gang leaders operates from a “military-like facility” in an area “restricted, controlled and patrolled by the Israel Defense Forces.”
of washington post “Israeli forces, which were in sight of the attack, repeatedly failed to intervene because the looting was in progress,” the transport worker said. The IDF denied these allegations.
The article cited several UN officials and at least one US official as saying Hamas was not behind the looting attacks. These officials said the criminal organization became more powerful and dangerous as the IDF dismantled Hamas and plunged Gaza into anarchy.
UNRWA's critics, like British Conservative lawmaker Suella Braverman, hit back by accusing the agency of hiding the identity of the convoy attackers and “protecting Hamas.” put it down.
“The international community's gaslighting and accusing Israel of terrorist actions is shameful. UNRWA is not fit for purpose. Defund it now,” Braverman said on Monday.
