Hamas executes four individuals for stealing from aid trucks entering Gaza

Image: Jihad Watch

CAIRO, May 26 (Reuters) — Tensions escalated further in the war-torn Gaza Strip as Hamas reportedly executed four individuals accused of looting humanitarian aid convoys. These executions, according to sources familiar with the matter, were carried out swiftly after the men were found responsible for hijacking aid trucks and allegedly contributing to the deaths of six Hamas security officers killed in an Israeli airstrike last week.

“The four criminals who were executed were directly involved in stealing humanitarian supplies and played a role in the deaths of security personnel assigned to protect those vital convoys,” a source told Reuters under the condition of anonymity.

A separate statement released by a group identifying itself as part of the “Palestinian Resistance” confirmed that seven other individuals connected to the same incident are still being pursued. This latest development underscores the growing challenges Hamas faces in maintaining internal order amid the ongoing conflict with Israel and the desperate humanitarian crisis that has gripped Gaza.

The executions come at a time when aid deliveries — long blocked by Israeli restrictions — have only recently begun trickling into Gaza following international pressure. Israel had enforced a strict blockade since early March, effectively choking off supplies of food, fuel, and medical aid to more than two million residents. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), nearly half a million people in Gaza are now teetering on the edge of famine.

As humanitarian trucks re-enter the enclave, chaos and desperation have erupted around distribution points. International aid groups have reported widespread looting, attributing the situation to a breakdown in civil order and the severe needs of a starving population. While these organizations have voiced criticism of Israel for creating the dire conditions through its prolonged siege, Israeli officials have instead blamed Hamas for misappropriating aid — an accusation the group denies.

What makes the matter even more volatile is the involvement of powerful local clans and families, particularly in southern Gaza, who have long acted as de facto authorities in certain areas. In response to the executions, one clan leader issued a direct challenge to Hamas, questioning its authority over aid distribution and security. This signals potential fractures not only between the population and Hamas but also within Gaza’s traditional power structures.

The issue of aid control has become a fiercely contested battleground in itself. While Israel insists on strict inspections and blames Hamas for diverting supplies, aid organizations warn that any delays or interference in distribution threaten to exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian toll.

Since the beginning of the current conflict in October 2023, over 35,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Infrastructure across the enclave has been decimated, hospitals have collapsed under the pressure, and basic necessities like clean water and electricity are nearly nonexistent.

In such a desperate landscape, the looting of aid is both a symptom of societal breakdown and a spark for new violence. Hamas’s decision to carry out executions without public trials has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, who say the group is using brutal tactics to maintain its grip on power in the face of mounting public frustration and internal disorder.

As Gaza sinks deeper into humanitarian disaster, the international community is watching with alarm. While the recent aid deliveries provide a sliver of hope, questions remain about who controls the aid, how it’s distributed, and whether law and order can be maintained amid the ruins of war.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)