Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on November 18th in the Knesset that he had instructed the IDF to prepare a comprehensive plan to dismantle Hamas’s governing capacity in the Gaza Strip.
Despite this declaration, Hamas appears unfazed by Netanyahu’s statements.
Hamas is stealing humanitarian aid and selling it in Gaza’s markets to bolster its financial resources.
On November 17th, the group claimed it had carried out a “successful elimination operation” against 20 individuals it accused of hijacking control over most of the humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
According to Hamas, these individuals had not only stolen aid but also manipulated market prices, selling the stolen goods to merchants at inflated rates.
Hamas described the culprits as fugitives who had escaped its prisons following the outbreak of the current conflict.
The group claimed it recaptured them with assistance from Gaza’s clan committees, executing them by shooting.
Meanwhile, Israel’s political leadership has ordered intensified efforts to prevent looting and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches its intended recipients, rather than falling into the hands of hostile elements like Hamas or local criminal networks.
On November 18th, about 15 aid trucks were reportedly looted in Gaza by armed men.
In response, the IDF fired on additional looters attempting to seize other trucks, successfully thwarting their efforts.
The IDF has recently escalated operations to secure aid delivery routes, targeting armed gangs with direct action, including the use of force.
Measures have also been implemented to enhance security along key roads used by humanitarian convoys within Gaza.
These actions aim to ensure that essential aid reaches civilians in need, rather than being exploited by opportunists or militant groups.
