In Gaza Organized Gangs Make a Bad Situation Even Worse
06:20 Share

Support for this podcast and the following message come from Energia, where everyone can invest in the world's top renewable energy markets and make an impact. With Energia, you can invest directly in solar projects that reduce carbon emissions. More at Energia.com slash NPR. Today on State of the World, in Gaza, organized gangs make a bad situation even worse.

You're listening to State of the World from NPR, the day's most vital international stories up close where they're happening. It's Thursday, November 21st. I'm Greg Dixon. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and former defense minister. Among the charges, that Israel has used starvation as a weapon of war against the people of Gaza. Israel called the allegations absurd and false.

Hunger is an urgent problem in Gaza, and aid groups say not enough food is being allowed in from Israel. And making the situation even worse, what little food does get into Gaza is increasingly being stolen by armed gangs. NPR's Anas Baba and Ayiba Trawi tell us more.

It's early morning outside a UN-run bakery. People are waiting in long lines, some since 2 a.m. The round loaves of pita sold here for cheap are how people in Gaza have survived on just one meal a day throughout the war. NPR's producer Anas Baba got a look inside the bakery. At least there is 10,000 people every day that comes here to ask for some of the pita bread that's coming fresh from the oven here. But half of them and sometimes two-thirds of them

People will leave hungry because there are only three bakeries functioning in all of southern and central Gaza, where some two million people are displaced. The others have run out of fuel and flour. The U.N. says only 37 trucks of aid on average a day entered Gaza from Israel last month, the lowest since the war began.

and much of that aid is being stolen by gangs in areas under Israeli watch. Here's Felipe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the main UN agency in Gaza. We are in an environment where local gangs, local families are struggling among each other to take control. It has become an impossible environment to operate in.

Just how impossible became clear Saturday when looters attacked a convoy of over 100 trucks carrying food aid, taking nearly everything. The UN says the attack happened not far from Gaza's southern border with Israel along an alternate unfamiliar route decided on by Israel's military. Looters have grown emboldened in recent months.

Dozens of trucks used to enter Gaza every day from Egypt. But six months ago, Israel took control of Gaza's side of that border, rerouting cargo through Israeli crossings, restricting the flow. Soon, this became the scene.

In audio captured by NPR in July, armed looters attack trucks carrying food parcels. An Israeli drone hovers overhead. The looters, some of them known criminals before the war, have become organized gangs, armed with assault rifles and knives.

Nahed Shohaybar, head of Gaza's private transportation association, lost trucks in the most recent looting. Some of his drivers were hospitalized. He tells NPR over the phone Israel is protecting the gangs. He says Israel is trying to force Hamas to surrender by starving Gaza. Shohaybar's had four drivers killed by these gangs in recent months.

The Washington Post and Financial Times reported this week on a leaked U.N. memo saying gangs may be benefiting from a passive, if not active, benevolence or protection from Israeli forces. Spokesman at the U.N., Stefan Dujarric, had this to say. The reports, the idea that the Israeli forces are

Maybe allowing looters or not doing enough to prevent it is frankly fairly alarming given the responsibilities of Israel as the occupying power to ensure that humanitarian aid is distributed safely. Israel's military did not answer NPR's questions on why it hasn't taken action against looting in areas of its control.

Shohaybar says Gaza's civil police is able to provide protection to his drivers and the roads they take. But he notes Israel is killing police across Gaza.

Israel says the police are part of Hamas, the group that attacked Israel last year and that the military is trying to eliminate. Israeli officials say any restrictions on aid are to prevent Hamas from benefiting and that Hamas, whose leaders are also wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, is behind the looting. But just days after the UN convoy was attacked, Hamas security forces killed around 20 of the suspected looters.

Here's Dujarric of the UN again. The solution lies in opening more entry points into Gaza and allowing the use of additional internal routes. Both steps require actions by Israeli authorities. According to morgue records seen by NPR, among those killed was the brother of Yasser Abou-Shabeb, the leader of Gaza's most notorious gang. The next day, Abou-Shabeb's men used three trucks to block the main route for aid into Gaza.

All this has driven up the cost of food. A bag of flour is now $200. Food kitchens and aid warehouses are empty. Awad Abed, a father of five starving children, was so desperate for flour, he went to Abu Shabab to buy some on the cheap. When we reached the place, we found armed men. They shot at us. We did not even get close to them.

But they shouted at us and said, only the rich traders can come here for flour. Abed returned to his tent and kids without food. Aya Batrawi, NPR News Dubai, with Anas Baba in Gaza and reporting by Ahmed Abu Hamda in Cairo. That's the state of the world from NPR. For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org slash mid-east updates. Thanks for listening.

From the online trends that dominated 2024. On the spectrum of rat to demure. Where are you right now? To spicy TikTok viral reads. These romance fantasy books about dragons. NPR kept you up to speed on pop culture all year long. Give back to the news source that just hits different by donating today at donate.npr.org. And thank you.

This message comes from NPR sponsor Shopify, the global commerce platform that helps you sell and show up exactly the way you want to. Customize your online store to your style. Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com slash NPR.

This message comes from Warby Parker. Prescription eyewear that's expertly crafted and unexpectedly affordable. Glasses designed in-house from premium materials starting at just $95, including prescription lenses. Stop by a Warby Parker store near you.