In a move that underscores growing tensions within Gaza, Hamas has reportedly executed four individuals accused of looting humanitarian aid trucks, according to sources familiar with the situation. The executions follow a deadly incident last week in which six Hamas security personnel were killed by an Israeli airstrike while attempting to prevent gangs from hijacking vital aid convoys.
The executed individuals were allegedly involved in attacks on these trucks, indirectly leading to the deaths of the Hamas guards. A statement from a group calling itself the “Palestinian Resistance” claimed seven more suspects are currently being pursued for similar offenses.
The situation unfolds as Gaza continues to reel from a humanitarian crisis. After months of blockade, Israel recently allowed limited aid to enter the Strip, following intense international pressure. According to a global hunger monitor, nearly half a million people in Gaza face starvation, and aid groups have warned that looting is severely hindering distribution efforts.
However, responsibility for the chaotic conditions surrounding the aid trucks is hotly disputed. While aid agencies blame Israel’s blockade for plunging civilians into desperation, Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid—a claim Hamas has consistently denied. Israeli officials say Hamas security teams are more interested in controlling the delivery of supplies than protecting them, but no direct evidence has been provided since the easing of the blockade.
Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, is known for cracking down harshly on dissent. But recent months have seen increasing unrest and opposition from both civilians and armed factions, including public punishments like shooting alleged looters in the legs.
Amidst the turmoil, a new player has emerged. Yasser Abu Shabab, a powerful clan leader in Rafah—a region now fully under Israeli control—has declared he is forming an independent force to safeguard aid deliveries. Images circulating on social media show his armed men organizing the flow of aid trucks.
Hamas has responded by accusing Abu Shabab of collaborating with Israel and previously looting aid shipments. The clan leader denies the allegations, maintaining that he has no interest in replacing the government but is simply protecting resources from corruption and theft. On a Facebook page bearing his name, Abu Shabab is described as a “grassroots leader fighting against looting and ensuring aid reaches the people.”
The tension between Hamas and Abu Shabab illustrates deepening divisions within Gaza. A Hamas security official labeled him a “tool of the Israeli occupation,” accusing him of trying to fragment the Palestinian front.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) denied working with any armed groups. A spokesperson emphasized that the U.N. doesn’t pay individuals for protection but rather works directly with communities to ensure aid access through trust and dialogue.
As the humanitarian situation worsens, the struggle over control of aid convoys is quickly becoming a proxy battlefield in Gaza’s already complex conflict—one that threatens to widen internal fractures in the Palestinian territory.
