Israel-Palestine Mega Fact Check!

If enough food aid was being let in (as Israel alleges) to feed all 2.1 million inhabitants, why would Hamas militants (who, according to most sources, number at most 30,000) unload, transport, and store 70 times the amount of aid they actually need? 🤔 Wouldn’t that be a tremendous amount of wasted effort, space, and aid?

Allegations of Hamas stealing aid have been made since the first few weeks of the war. Up until mid-2024 these claims were not backed by credible evidence. For instance, in February 2024, a top U.S. envoy said Israel has not shown evidence that Hamas is diverting UN aid in Gaza. In May 2024, UNRWA stated that it “is not aware of and has received no specific allegations regarding any systemic diversion of aid in Gaza by Hamas or other armed groups. Should it be revealed to be the case, UNRWA will strongly condemn any diversion of humanitarian supplies and immediately inform its donors to determine appropriate next steps.”

In the latter part of 2024, however, it has become clear that armed gangs have indeed begun raiding aid trucks in Gaza. That looting occurs in increasingly chaotic and desperate wartime conditions, such as those in Gaza, should not be surprising. However, no credible news report have stated that these gangs belonged to Hamas. On the contrary, Hamas has reportedly formed a new anti-looting force to try to put a stop to them.

Part of the reason such gangs can operate so brazenly is because, according to Le Monde, “the Palestinian police, who could ensure the security of the shipments, but whom Israel appears to associate with Hamas, are pursued relentlessly by the army.”

Meanwhile, armed gangs are looting the aid trucks “in an area under full IDF control.” If the hijackers (which Israel alleges are Hamas militants) are hijacking the aid right in front of the IDF, why isn’t the IDF, whose stated goal is to eliminate Hamas, doing anything? Why does the IDF do nothing even when truck drivers explicitly ask them for help?

Why is the IDF relentlessly targeting Palestinian police officers (who could protect these trucks) while not targeting the looters (who are hijacking the trucks)? 🤔 As NPR reported, “Israel's military did not answer NPR's questions on why it hasn't taken action against looting in areas of its control.” Le Monde correspondent Samuel Forey pointedly suggested that “It's clear that Israel has an interest in this looting, which it could put a stop to immediately."