A convoy of 109 UN aid lorries carrying food was violently looted in Gaza on November 16, 2024, marking one of the most significant incidents of aid theft since the start of the conflict. Ninety-seven of the trucks were lost, and their drivers were forced at gunpoint to unload their cargo. The convoy had entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is controlled by Israel. Eyewitnesses reported that the attack was carried out by masked men who threw grenades at the vehicles. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has expressed concern about the worsening situation, citing the “total breakdown of civil order” in Gaza, which has made it nearly impossible to deliver humanitarian aid safely.
The attack on the aid convoy has compounded the already dire food shortages in Gaza, where nearly two million people rely on humanitarian assistance. A UN-backed report had previously warned of the high likelihood of famine in northern Gaza due to ongoing conflict and blockages to aid delivery. UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini confirmed that the looting occurred as the convoy was instructed by Israeli authorities to take an unfamiliar route after passing through the Kerem Shalom crossing. However, the UN has faced criticism for the lack of a clear and secure route for aid distribution.
The Hamas-run interior ministry claimed that their security forces killed over 20 individuals involved in the looting, which was said to have been a result of the actions of local gangs. Lazzarini, however, stated that the UN had long warned about the collapse of local security structures in Gaza, which had once been able to assist in ensuring the safety of aid convoys. The breakdown of local capacity, such as the lack of protection and escort for aid trucks, has made it increasingly dangerous for humanitarian organizations to operate in Gaza.
UNRWA also accused Israeli authorities of failing to meet their legal obligations under international law, particularly in regard to facilitating the safe delivery of aid into Gaza. In response, the Israeli military body responsible for humanitarian affairs, COGAT, stated that efforts were underway to improve the distribution of aid from the Kerem Shalom crossing and noted that aid had been accumulating on the Gazan side awaiting inspection and delivery. However, Israel has also accused Hamas of stealing aid, which Hamas denies.
The looting incident comes amid growing desperation in Gaza, where food and medical supplies are scarce due to the ongoing conflict. As the war continues, the situation has become increasingly dire, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting over 43,920 deaths since Israel launched a ground offensive in October 2023. In addition to aid shortages, airstrikes continue to devastate civilian infrastructure, with more deaths reported from Israeli strikes in northern Gaza on the same day.
The looting of the aid convoy highlights the breakdown of authority and security in Gaza, as well as the immense challenges faced by humanitarian organizations working in the region. It also underscores the broader issue of aid access and delivery in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with both sides accusing the other of obstructing aid distribution for political and military reasons. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the international community continues to call for more effective measures to ensure the safe and uninterrupted delivery of aid to those in need in Gaza.
