Israel suspends aid to northern Gaza amid clan protection claims

Israel has halted the delivery of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, while still allowing shipments to enter from the southern part of the territory, according to officials. This decision came after footage surfaced showing masked men on aid trucks, whom clan leaders insisted were safeguarding the aid rather than diverting it for Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, together with the Defense Minister, instructed the military to devise a plan within two days to stop Hamas from seizing aid supplies. This follows intelligence suggesting that Hamas was confiscating aid meant for civilians in northern Gaza. A video released recently displayed dozens of masked individuals, some armed, riding on aid trucks.

An Israeli government representative confirmed that aid continues to enter Gaza from the south but did not clarify if supplies were coming into the north. Meanwhile, a humanitarian organization operating in southern and central Gaza reported being the only group authorized to distribute food on that day, exempt from a temporary suspension on aid deliveries.

Leaders of prominent Gaza clans stated that the protection of aid trucks was managed solely by tribal groups and denied any involvement by Hamas. The militant group, which has controlled parts of Gaza for over two decades but lost some territory amid ongoing conflict, also denied taking part in the protection process.

Various clans, civil society groups, and factions, including Hamas’ rival Fatah, have historically contributed to safeguarding aid convoys throughout the conflict. However, food and essential supplies remain severely limited after years of conflict that displaced most of Gaza’s two million residents.

Aid convoys and warehouses have frequently been looted, often by desperate civilians. Israel accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its fighters or selling it to fund operations, claims denied by Hamas. A clan representative emphasized their role in preventing the theft of food intended for the local population.

The video footage circulated by a former prime minister claimed Hamas had taken control over aid entering Gaza, a statement fueling political debate. Netanyahu faces pressure from his own coalition over ceasefire talks and aid delivery, amid a devastating war that began after a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, resulting in thousands of deaths and hostages.

Since then, Israeli military actions have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials. Recent days saw continued casualties near aid distribution points, highlighting the ongoing dangers amid the humanitarian crisis.