A disturbing Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus is emerging in the besieged, violence-ridden territory. Israeli forces killed several policemen on Friday, May 2nd, as they attempted to stop looters from raiding warehouses. The incident occurred on Al-Thawra Street in Gaza City.
The killing of the policemen, under Gaza’s crisis-ridden Interior Ministry, has highlighted a greater problem plaguing the territory, which remains outside public view—the law and order challenge.
While over the surface, the steep rise in thefts and looting across Gaza City may appear as isolated incidents triggered by months of starvation and poverty in the strip, where 2.3m people have only one certainty in life—death due to Israeli raids.
However, a deeper analysis shows that the rise in such crimes in Gaza City and elsewhere in the enclave isn’t an isolated incident triggered by desperation but has a systematic planning behind it.
The killing of policemen chasing thieves on the Al-Thawra Street in Gaza highlights a very disturbing part of the conflict—the thriving Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus.
Coordinated attacks raise questions
Evidence suggests a deliberate Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus at work in the territory.
The thieves seized their opportunity, amid continuous bombing, to loot warehouses while police officers lay wounded on the ground.
This coordinated action by Israeli forces points to troubling collusion.
The attack adds to a growing pattern of security personnel being targeted across Gaza.
Gaza’s Government Media Office reports that 748 security personnel and aid workers have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza aggression in October 2023.
They have documented 157 attacks against police and aid security workers.
This security vacuum benefits armed gangs who steal humanitarian aid sent for the starving people.
Over two million Palestinians suffer as a result of these unbridled thefts.
Israeli-backed criminals intercept supplies meant for civilians facing starvation with impunity.
Intelligence indicate Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus at work
Gaza’s security sources have intercepted communications revealing a deeper Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus.
The Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet allegedly provides support to criminal gangs operating in Gaza.Â
This claim finds support in unexpected places.
A Washington Post investigation confirmed Israeli army involvement in such activities. Israeli newspaper Haaretz has also alleged such a nexus.
Moreover, the Israel Defense Force personnel have been found looting the belongings of Palestinians from their homes while making TikTok videos.
An internal United Nations memo suggested these gangs may receive protection from Israeli forces.
Ismail Thawabta, the director general of Gaza’s Government Media Office, has been quoted by Al-Quds News that many gang members operating in Gaza have criminal backgrounds.
They coordinate with Israeli forces to intercept humanitarian aid trucks.Â
Since Israel took control of the Rafah crossing, humanitarian aid for Gaza has been severely restricted.
And whatever comes is anyway scarce for the 2.3m starving masses.
Amid this, the spike in thefts has further complicated the scenario for the victims.
The human cost
The consequences of the Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus are devastating for civilians. Looted aid means less food and medicine reach those in dire need.
Deaths from hunger and inadequate healthcare continue to rise across the territory.
Mostly children suffer due to severe malnutrition caused by the rampant looting of aid.
Gaza’s Interior Ministry condemned these actions amid the 60-day siege and 18-month military campaign. They described the looters as collaborators working against Palestinian interests.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s security forces have begun operations to apprehend these criminals.
And in doing so, the interior security is coming under fire from the Israelis whenever they are close to apprehending the thieves.
Friday’s attack is a glaring example of the growing Israeli attacks on security forces trying to curb the looting of aid.
Desperate measures to curb Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus
The Gaza Internal Front Command has responded with harsh measures to counter the Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus.
They announced on Friday that six death sentences were carried out in the past 48 hours.
Additionally, 13 others were shot in the legs as punishment.
Their statement described Israeli forces and the gangs as “partners in chaos”. Authorities have imposed a curfew in Gaza City to prevent armed robberies.
The command warned: “We will continue to carry out revolutionary death sentences against all criminals who fall under our hands.”
Finally, the statement concluded with a stark message for collaborators: “Revolutionary legal rulings will be applied without leniency or hesitation, regardless of the cost.”
A deliberate strategy
Security sources were quoted by Al-Araby as claiming that Israel is activating its collaborators now for strategic reasons.
Armed groups loot remaining food supplies as part of what Palestinians describe as a starvation war.
This tactic compounds suffering in a territory already facing acute shortages.
The Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus represents a new dimension in the conflict. Beyond direct military action, the strategy targets the social fabric of Gaza.
Undermining security and enabling criminality creates division within Palestinian society.
Gaza’s security forces now fight on two fronts: against external aggression and internal sabotage. Their resources are stretched thin by 18 months of bombardment. The criminal gangs exploit this vulnerability with apparent Israeli support.
For Gaza’s civilians, the Israel-Gaza criminals’ nexus means additional suffering beyond the direct effects of war.
Aid that does reach the territory must now navigate not only Israeli restrictions but also internal criminal networks.
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