According to reports, the victims were part of organized gangs that had taken control of aid shipments. In a statement on Hamas’s Al-Aqsa channel, officials declared that the operation was the start of a larger security crackdown aimed at eradicating theft from aid trucks, a crime that has caused widespread hunger in southern Gaza.
“These security actions will continue until the gangs behind the thefts are eliminated,” officials said. They also emphasized that the operation was not directed against the tribes themselves, but specifically focused on those involved in the theft of aid.
Despite the involvement of some tribal members in the theft operations, Hamas officials defended the tribes’ long-standing history of sacrifice, claiming that their involvement in the thefts would not tarnish their reputation.
The Ministry also reported that the security forces had intercepted communications between the thieves and Israeli forces, alleging that the latter had provided cover for the criminal activities. The operation received support from Palestinian factions, who endorsed the crackdown as part of a broader national effort.
In recent months, disturbing videos have surfaced showing Hamas militants torturing suspected aid thieves, with reports indicating that some victims were executed or left severely wounded.