‘Distraught and Traumatized Individuals’: Gaza Experiences Surge in Looting, Theft, and Violence | Gaza

Gaza is experiencing a surge of looting and theft as Palestinians face increasing desperation for food, while criminal gangs exploit the breakdown of law and order. According to aid officials and witnesses, armed men are targeting humanitarian warehouses and engaging in firefights over remaining food supplies. Essential items such as solar chargers, batteries, phones, and cooking pots are being stolen. Gaza is on the brink of catastrophe after two months of a total blockade by Israel, with many families down to one meal a day and no fuel available, except for wood or discarded plastic. Medical officials report a rise in cases of acute malnutrition, and community kitchens that served one million meals a day are shutting down due to lack of essentials. The crime wave is attributed to the desperate situation of two million people in Gaza with little policing. Incidents of theft and violence have occurred, including the looting of bakeries, soup kitchens, and UNRWA field offices. The situation is especially dire in Gaza City, where clashes between armed thieves and security guards have been reported. The hungry population is engaged in violent arguments and petty theft. The blockade, imposed by Israel, has caused widespread suffering and left Palestinians in a state of deprivation. Despite Israel’s announcement to lift the blockade and implement an “intensified” military operation, aid officials have dismissed the plan as unworkable, dangerous, and potentially unlawful under international law.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/07/desperate-traumatised-people-gaza-faces-wave-of-looting-theft-and-violence