On Tuesday's WBUR broadcast “Here and Now,” UNRWA Director of Public Affairs Juliet Touma said the recent theft from an aid convoy in Gaza is in addition to multiple previously witnessed cases of aid truck looting. Rather, he said, it was an incident. He accused Israel of organized theft in the Gaza Strip, calling it “organized crime,” adding: “What needs to happen is that the Israeli authorities, as the occupying power, ensure security and ensure that they act.” insisted. That these convoys not only enter Gaza, but that they will be protected all the way until they reach the UN warehouse safely. ”
Touma said. [relevant remarks begin around 3:40] “[B]Fundamentally, this is not looting. This is what I mean. This is organized crime. It's on a different level. We have experienced several incidents of looting. People are coming to our trucks in desperation, desperate and hungry and doing whatever they can to help. This was different. What is needed, therefore, is for the Israeli authorities as the occupying power to ensure that these convoys are protected not only as they enter Gaza, but all the way to their safe arrival at the UN warehouse. That needs to happen. ”
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