GAZA CITY — Aid truck drivers in Gaza are sounding the alarm as their missions to deliver food and supplies have become increasingly life-threatening. Amid widespread hunger, rising lawlessness, and violent looting, drivers say they face attacks from armed gangs, desperate civilians, and even Israeli gunfire — all while trying to help a starving population.
Since Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas in March 2024, halting most imports, conditions in the enclave of 2 million Palestinians have sharply deteriorated. International experts warn of a looming famine, and despite recent efforts to increase aid, delivery is chaotic and perilous.
“Some of my drivers are scared to go transfer aid because they’re concerned about how they’ll untangle themselves from large crowds of people,” said Abu Khaled Selim, VP of the Special Transport Association in Gaza.
🔥 Aid Trucks Overwhelmed by Looting and Gunfire
Eyewitness videos and testimonies reveal how crowds swarm incoming trucks, ripping aid off moving vehicles, climbing onto cabs and trailers in desperation. In some cases, armed gangs hijack trucks, reselling the aid at exorbitant prices in local markets.
Israeli forces often fire into the mayhem, reportedly killing or injuring drivers and civilians.
One such victim was Ashraf Selim, a father of eight, killed by a gunshot to the head during an aid run on July 29. His body was received by Shifa Hospital.
“With the situation unsecured, everything is permissible,” Selim added, calling for international protection for humanitarian convoys.
⚠️ Gangs, Armed Clans, and Lawlessness
As the Hamas-run police presence has weakened, violent Gaza clans and criminal gangs have stepped in.
In recent days:
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A 14-truck convoy was looted by armed men from a known Gaza clan.
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A second convoy of 10 trucks suffered the same fate.
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Some drivers were ambushed and beaten, their trucks stripped of cargo, fuel, batteries—even tires.
“Every time we go out, we get robbed,” said Anas Rabea, a driver who recently had his truck emptied by a mob and was later held at gunpoint by a gang.
🚨 Aid Drivers Caught Between All Sides
Drivers say they are harassed by Israeli forces with long searches and interrogations, while being attacked by armed Palestinians inside Gaza.
“We put our lives in danger for this,” said Ali Al-Derbashi, a 22-year-old former driver who quit after facing mob attacks.
“We don’t even have water or food ourselves.”
Others report being shot at, used as human shields, or interrogated for days.
🇺🇳 UN, Aid Agencies Call for Urgent Action
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) says the only real solution is a massive increase in aid to reduce desperation and restore order. The UN refuses military protection from Israeli forces to maintain neutrality and accepts that food may be taken off trucks — so long as it remains nonviolent.
“Flooding Gaza with renewed aid would ease the desperation,” said Juliette Touma, UNRWA communications director.
But on the ground, drivers say the situation is deteriorating day by day.
📌 Context: Gaza War and Humanitarian Crisis
The current war began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 251. In response, Israel launched a large-scale offensive, which has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
With infrastructure in ruins and aid systems breaking down, humanitarian workers and drivers remain among the few lifelines — albeit at enormous risk.
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