Israel has suspended humanitarian aid deliveries to northern Gaza, though supplies continue to enter from the south, officials confirmed on Thursday. The decision follows the circulation of footage showing masked men, some armed, riding on aid trucks. While Israeli officials allege Hamas is seizing supplies, Gaza’s tribal leaders insist the men were safeguarding the aid, not stealing it.
In a joint statement late Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to draft a plan within 48 hours to prevent Hamas from allegedly diverting aid meant for civilians. The government cited unspecified intelligence claiming Hamas was confiscating shipments bound for northern Gaza.
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A video shared widely on Wednesday depicted dozens of masked individuals—some carrying rifles, most with sticks—boarding aid trucks. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer stated that aid flows to southern Gaza remain uninterrupted but did not clarify the status of northern deliveries.
The U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates distribution centers in southern and central Gaza, announced on social media that it was the only organization permitted to distribute food in the territory on Thursday. A spokesperson confirmed the group was exempt from Israel’s two-day pause on aid shipments.
Clans Deny Hamas Involvement
The Higher Commission for Tribal Affairs, representing Gaza’s influential clans, asserted that the masked men were part of a security effort organized “solely through tribal efforts,” denying any involvement by Hamas or other factions. Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007 but now controls only parts of the enclave after nearly two years of war, also rejected accusations of aid theft.
Throughout the conflict, clans, civil society groups, and rival factions—including Hamas’ secular opponent Fatah—have stepped in to protect aid convoys amid widespread looting by desperate civilians facing severe food shortages.
Desperation and Accusations
Amjad al-Shawa, head of a Palestinian NGO network, said the aid secured by clans on Wednesday was being distributed to vulnerable families. Gaza faces catastrophic shortages after Israel’s military offensive, which has displaced most of its 2.3 million residents.
Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning aid for its fighters or resale to fund operations—a claim Hamas denies. Abu Salman Al Moghani, a clan representative, stated the armed men intervened to “prevent thieves from stealing food meant for our people.”
Political Fallout
The video was amplified by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a potential challenger to Netanyahu, who accused Hamas of commandeering aid. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces pressure from hardline coalition members threatening to quit over ceasefire talks and humanitarian aid policies.
War Toll
The conflict began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed over 56,000 Palestinians, per Gaza health officials. Recent clashes near aid distribution points have left at least 118 Palestinians dead since Wednesday.
Twenty hostages remain in Gaza, along with the bodies of 30 others who died in captivity.
